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Mentor Teachers

Dear mentor teachers: The School of Teacher Education sincerely appreciates your willingness to take part in preparation of the next generation of teachers. UNC places high expectations on its teacher candidates to be supportive, helpful, collaborative and punctual to aid in the mentor teacher’s classroom environment and school.

Mentor teacher qualifications are:

  • Valid Colorado license in the area of the teacher candidate OR submit evidence of demonstrated successful teaching and knowledge of specific content using this qualification verification form.
  • For student teaching or comparable final field experience: At least three (3) years of full time professional teaching experience in the area of the teacher candidate or four (4) years for non-licensed teachers. All other mentorship, such as practicum, requires 2 years of teaching experience.
  • Building principal or District approval; recognition as a master teacher or educational professional.

Cooperating teacher expectations vary across the programs; please check with program coordinators. Common expectations:

  • Meet with UNC faculty supervisor at the beginning or before the field experience.
  • Provide mentorship to teacher candidates, observe their teaching and provide constructive, detailed feedback.
  • Submit required evaluation forms and other documentation (see appropriate handbooks).

How to get credit for hosting/module completion:

In Fall 2023, UNC will begin offering a professional development course for mentor teachers, hosting UNC teacher licensure candidates, that will grant completers 1 graduate credit that may have the potential to be used toward a graduate mentor endorsement program in the future.  Please complete the steps in the gray box below to get a UNC email and bear # set-up so you can get access to the training and receive graduate credit.

IN ADDITION

All UNC mentor teachers hosting a main campus or graduate program candidate in one of these field courses (ECLD 401, ECLD 501, EDEC 462, EDEC 490, EDEL 454, EDEL 457, EDEL 459, EDEL 544, EDEL 602, EDFE 370, EDFE 444, EDFE 550, EDFE 555, EDFE 556, STEP 363 or STEP 464) where students are in their mentor teacher classroom for at least 80 hours a semester may choose to receive graduate credit for supervising teacher candidates OR a stipend payment. 

*Note that this credit cannot be used toward a degree program.  It is credit that will appear on an official transcript and is typically used by Mentor Teachers to make a move up on their district pay scale.*

This is a two-step process! 

If you are wanting to receive the stipend payment ($50 for hosting practicum and $100 for hosting a student teacher), you need to do nothing.  Once all graduate credits are applied, all remaining mentors will receive an email with next steps to get the stipend payment.  This will be done near the end of the semester.

To get the graduate credit (1 credit for practicum, 1-2 credits for student teaching (hosting K-12 candidates is 1 credit per 8-weeks)), please review the steps below:

STEP 1:

If you have never attended UNC, please complete this application for UNC Non-Degree seeking student.  Please use these instructions if needed. 

OR

If you have previously attended or graduated from UNC, please complete thisstudent information form, then email Cheryl Sparks (cheryl.sparks@unco.edu) once you completed the form.  You will need to include the name of the student you are hosting when you email Cheryl.

Step 1 enrollment deadlines:

Spring semester hosting, Registration Deadline is March 31st 
Fall semester hosting, Registration Deadline is October 31st 

STEP 2:

Upon completion of step one, you will receive an email in early March/early October with instructions to register for your graduate credit.  If you do not complete step one by the deadlines listed above you will automatically receive paperwork to process the stipend payment at the end of the semester.

We are sorry, LATE CREDIT REQUESTS CANNOT BE HONORED.

In addition to either the graduate credit or the stipend payment, mentor teachers may request a verification form used for licensure renewal credit with the State.  Contact Cheryl Sparks to request this form.  *Please note these letters are not available until two weeks prior to the end of the placement.