The administrator can delegate some of the work of integrating and supporting the new staff member, but he cannot delegate the responsibility for getting the job done. He is an extension of the administrator. He provides help and support as needed. One of the key issues the mentor must understand is the importance of working through the school's organizational structure. Another important consideration for all involved is the simple fact that teacher mentoring takes time.
Meetings usually take place before or after school.
These time considerations point to the fact that mentoring is a major responsibility. The administrator should consider this in the allocation of extracurricular duties for both the mentor and the new teacher. As a body, the staff, under the direction of the administrator, shifts and flows with the needs and strengths of each member for maximum efficiency. The goal is not that some be burdened and others be at ease, but that each teacher contribute his maximum for the benefit of the Lord's work, although in different ways at different times. Usually the burden of initiating contact falls upon the mentor.