The mentor network for elementary math teachers was established on July 1, 1994 and was similar to the science mentor network which had already been in existence for several years.  This network took the place of the SED Elementary Turnkey Trainer Program.  The Turnkey Trainer Program continued until June 30, 1994, when the Mentor Network took over.  Every Turnkey trainer was invited to become a regional math mentor.  The Network is made up of a planning group and regional mentors from around the state.

This network was developed to focus statewide staff development efforts on the new MST Standards and the new grade 4 and 8 math assessments which went into effect in the spring of this year (1999).  1998-1999 was the final year of the original three year DDE grant which ended August 30, 1999.  For 1999-2004, we will continue preparing mentors to provide inservice training at the local level. Local classroom teachers in turn receive ongoing assistance to develop teaching activities and strategies that will support their students in reaching the new standards. Since the 2002-2003 school year the project has been funded by the Teacher Leader Quality Partnership program under the "Leave No Child Behind" Act.
 

2.  Planning Group

The Planning Group is made up of nine mathematics education specialists: six coordinating mentors, one SED math associate, one college mathematician and one elementary mathematics faculty from SUNY New Paltz who administers the grant.  There is one coordinating mentor for each geographical region.  The Planning Group members plan the mentor institutes and aid in recruiting new mentors.  Additionally, the planning group will be advised by three faculty specialists from the School of Education regarding issues of inclusion, diversity and equity.
 

3.  Meetings for K-8 Regional Math Mentors

Fall Training Institute:  Usually in October. All new mentors MUST attend the FULL fall training.  The first day is dedicated to training new mentors and to reviewing existing instructional materials and state assessments and standards.

Spring Institute:   All mentors share and evaluate local endeavors.  Training in instructional strategies continues. Mentors are updated on current NYS     Education Department initiatives regarding the MST Standards and grade 4 and 8 mathematics assessments.

Local agencies must agree to reimburse their mentors for lodging, meals and transportation to the Fall Institute and transportation only for the Spring.  The project will reimburse mentors for lodging and meals for the Spring Institute only as per signed Memorandum of Agreement.  Hopefully, this shared financial support will not be a hardship for participating local agencies.  With the implementation of the new assessments, we anticipate that even more local educational authorities will wish to include their educators and staff development professionals in the project.  This increase in mentors may try our budget but we welcome as many participants as possible as the new assessments become a reality across New York State.
 

4.  Mentor Responsibilities

To the project:

• A mentor commits him or herself to at least one full academic year, preferably two or more years, of working with the project starting in October and continuing through June.  Mentors cannot become part of the network midyear.
• New mentors must attend the Fall Training Institute.  A mentor will not be able to participate in the network without this vital training.
• Each mentor will provide required final report data and materials to the project at the Spring Institute or by June, whichever is later, including State Assessment data analyses, copies of all activities prepared by local teachers, classroom achievement profiles, representative samples of student work, names and attendance records of participants, teacher data sheets for participants, teacher survey forms and documentation of local school financial support.
• The mentor will be the link between their representative area and the project staff.

• Help their local education agency recruit teachers to take part in the training.
• Provide an introductory session on the Learning standards for MST and the new math assessments.
• Facilitate a small group of teachers, at least four from a building, to analyse the State assessment data and from this analysos create a unit consistent with the Math Standards and accompanying assessments similar to those of the new 4 and 8 math assessments.
• Facilitate development of scoring rubrics for the assessments based on examples of student work.
• Facilitate working sessions with teachers throughout the school year and document at least 30 hours of attendance per teacher.
• Support the teachers in preparing materials for the peer review process.

• Participate in 30 hours of inservice with the mentor.
• Develop a unit that is consistent with selected key ideas from the Math Standard, based on analysis of assessment results.
• Develop appropriate assessments for the unit above.
• Pilot the unit and assessments with his or her students.
• Use student work to develop rubrics for scoring the assessments and provide a representative piece of student work for each rubric.
• If possible, provide a video tape of students at work.
• Submit the unit for a local peer review process, and participate as a peer reviewer for colleagues.

6.  Local Education Agency Responsibilities

• Select an administrator to be a member of the school team.
• Provide a location for the inservice sessions.
• Provide any duplicating needed by the mentor to carry on the project.
• Provide some form of remuneration for the mentor.  This could be a consultant fee or release time.
• Provide some form of remuneration for the participating teachers.  This could be inservice credit or release time.
• Reimburse mentors for institute expenses not covered by the project.
• Provide release time for the mentor to attend project institutes.

• Provide training and blackline training materials, including a Fall Training Institute and a Spring follow-up conference.
• Cover campus room and board or the equivalent toward hotel and meal expenses for participating mentors while attending the Spring Institute (local agency is responsible for travel reimbursement).
• Make arrangements for memorandums of agreement with local education agencies.
• Provide updates on SED math initiatives and MST Standards.