Mentors also train in cohorts and help one another learn how to care for novices to the profession. Mentoring new teachers, when well learned and rewarded, can be one of the most coveted perks in the teaching profession. Throughout the year, several levels of supervisors cooperate to supervise the intern. The mentor supports and does not evaluate. Throughout the novice year, the intern gathers teaching products, test scores, videos, portfolios, and other evidence of teaching competency.
Principal observations are key.
Peer review and support are also critical. Self-reflection, written and discussed, helps build the expectation that teaching is a lifelong challenge learned over many years. Making mistakes is, for the intern, a platform from which to jump to new learning. Because certification is with-held until the intern year is complete and all performance data is in, principals and hiring teams have a whole year to watch a new teacher perform before awarding a contract. Principals appreciate this flexibility while remaining invested in the hiring decisions they have already made.