"It's Shifted the Power Dynamic": Altering Mentor Teacher Beliefs and Improving Mentoring Practices

• In Event: Fairmont Roundtable Session Eleven
  In Roundtable Session: Shifting the Power Dynamic: Mentoring as a Tool to Support Teacher Retention (Table 2)

Abstract

Many studies have addressed the importance of providing Supervising Mentor Teacher (SMT) professional training to meet the diverse needs of their interns because mentoring practices are influenced by SMTs’ beliefs. This study investigates how a year-long supervising mentor teacher academy (SMTA), guided by anti-bias education, changes SMT beliefs about mentoring, and which aspects contribute to the changes. The results show that participants changed their belief in three areas: intern and learning, mentoring, and self and mentor role. The findings indicate that including anti-bias education in mentor training programs creates opportunities for mentor teachers to reflect and examine the hidden biases in their own beliefs, enabling the SMTS to alter and critically analyze their mentoring practices.

Authors

• Lijuan Shi, Bard High School Early College
  Presenting Author

• Lawrence M. Clark, University of Maryland
  Presenting Author

• Megan Madigan Peercy, University of Maryland
  Presenting Author

• Cherise Hunter, University of Maryland
  Presenting Author

• Alison L. Jovanovic, University of Maryland
  Presenting Author

• Tracy Dunheimer, University of Maryland
  Presenting Author

• Doug McNamara, University of Maryland
  Non-Presenting Author

• Melanie F. Hardy, University of Maryland
  Non-Presenting Author