BOISE, Idaho — The Idaho Department of Education and the Idaho State Board of Education have announced a program designed to provide first, second and third-year public school teachers with support and mentorship.
The program aims to reduce teacher attrition rates and increase student achievement in Idaho classrooms.
Applications are open and can be found here. Mentees must request an administrator to complete the referral. Applications submitted by August 9 will receive first consideration.
Selected mentees will be matched with mentors throughout the state based on the Idaho Mentoring Program platform. Priority will be given to applicants currently teaching in rural remote and rural distant local education agencies.
“The new platform provides educators access to high-quality mentors and professional development no matter where they live in Idaho,” State Board of Education President Dr. Linda Clark said. “I see this as a statewide investment that will help improve teacher performance and student achievement by creating a professional support network to help educators become their very best.”
Matches will be made based on content area, grade level and specific mentee needs. Mentees will also receive professional development resources and mentoring within a cohort of teachers throughout the 2024 – 2025 school year.
Mentees are asked to commit to attending a virtual orientation and other virtual training. They will also be asked to attend monthly individual check-ins and cohort meetings.
There will also be the opportunity to participate in professional pathways on the Trinity Education Group (TEG) platform.
“I hope that many of Idaho’s newer teachers will see this as an opportunity to develop and grow in a profession that has the potential to be so rewarding and impactful,” said Superintendent of Public Instruction Debbie Critchfield. “We’ve heard our teachers, especially those new to the profession, ask for support, and I’m pleased that we can offer teacher-to-teacher mentorship that can really make a difference for both teachers and students.”
The Idaho State Board of Education and the Idaho Department of Education will also be working to provide resources accessible to all Idaho public educators.
