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Gaining Expertise through Mentoring and Support (GEMS)
What is Gaining Expertise through Mentoring and Support (GEMS)?
A way for school systems to:
- Build collegial relationships between mentor teachers and beginning teachers to promote instructional excellence.
- Develop self-efficacy for beginning teachers as well as their mentors, to improve teaching satisfaction and job retention of special education teachers and related service personnel.
- Identify the needs of beginning teachers.
- Generate and implement strategies to support beginning teachers within the context and culture of special education.
Who may participate?
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Any teacher new to the field of Special Education in either the first or second year of service. |
When?
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Begins on each new school year. |
What are the requirements?
- Mentor must provide support and guidance as needed to the new teacher. This means spending approximately one hour per week with the mentee and documenting this interaction on the Mentor/Mentee Log. A mandatory minimum of 36 hours per school year must be documented to receive the stipend award.
- Mentee (new teacher to the field of Special Education) must maintain contact with the mentor and assist in determining goals requiring mentor support in accomplishing.
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Incentives?
- School Systems will be reimbursed a $500.00 stipend for each mentor teacher plus employer share of fringe benefits (benefits may not exceed $85.00). Total reimbursement may not exceed $585.00 per mentor participant.
- Each mentor and mentee may take up to three substitute teacher release days for needed observations, seminars, or team planning and work. (Reimbursement for stipends and release days is contingent upon each participant's completion of all required GEMS activities and submission of documentation of such.)
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Resources
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Systems wishing to participate in the GEMS program should click on the GEMS Partipation Request for a copy of the form. Print the completed form and fax or mail it to: Kathy Adams, GEMS/ALSIG, 50 N. Ripley St., Gordon Persons Bldg., Room 3316, Montgomery, AL 36130, phone: 334-242-8114, fax: 334-353-8559. Once a contract has been completed the designated system contact person may use this link to access other initial start-up forms.
Commitment Permission Form
Mentor-Mentee Log |
Forms/Tools
Questions?
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