Site Requirements
Candidates can be placed only in sites that have an active approved Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the University of Redlands. Criteria that are used in determining site eligibility include the following:
- The site is a public elementary, middle, or high school setting.
- The availability of a mentor administrator who meets the specified qualifications.
The site must also:
- Support the candidate’s ability to complete the CalAPA
- Demonstrate commitment to collaborative student-centered practices and continuous program improvement
- Have partnerships with appropriate other educational, social, and community entities that support teaching and learning for all students
- Create a learning culture that supports all students
- Understand and reflect socioeconomic and cultural diversity
- Support the candidate to access data, work with other educators, and observe teaching practice
- Permit video capture, where designated, for candidate reflection and CalAPA task completion
Mentor Administrator Requirements
Per the CTC and University of Redlands program requirements, a qualified mentor administrator must meet the following requirements:
- Must be a current educational leader in California
- Must possess a current clear administrative services credential
Students are generally encouraged to select a mentor administrator at their fieldwork site; however, under special circumstances the student may select a mentor administrator from another site within the district.
Mentor Administrator Responsibilities
Develop the candidate’s skills by:
- Co-planning and designing fieldwork experiences with the candidate and University Supervisor
- Supporting the candidate in completing three CalAPA cycles by providing authority to access student data, work with other educators, observe a teacher volunteer, and to video record necessary sessions following district guidelines
- Developing and promoting equity-driven practices
- Brokering relationships and networks
- Modeling strong leadership—be vulnerable, transparent and engage in think-alouds
Engage/Coach the candidate by:
- Providing regular, on-going feedback and coaching
- Encouraging, and guiding the candidate to take on increasing leadership roles
- Observing with the intent of congruence
Monitor the candidate’s growth by:
- Monitoring the fieldwork performance tasks
- Attending triad meetings with the candidate and the University Supervisor
- Participating in evaluation of candidate skills and growth
Mentorship and Evaluation Tasks
The mentorship and evaluation provided by mentor administrators is essential for facilitating practical, relevant, and meaningful field experiences for candidates. As a mentor administrator, you are asked to engage in specific mentorship and evaluative checkpoints as delineated below:
Provide authority for the candidate to assume leadership roles as outlined in the fieldwork assignments. Support the candidate in developing relationships and forming collaborative groups necessary to complete fieldwork assignments.
Check in regularly with the candidate. This will provide opportunities for the Mentor Administrator to model strong equity-driven leadership, think aloud so the candidate may understand the processes used to make decisions and solve problems, exchange ideas regarding fieldwork experiences, and provide ongoing, direct feedback on the candidate’s progress.
In doing so, assist the candidate in the self-assessment of skills/dispositions needed for entry-level administrators.
Attend at least 2 triad meetings per semester with the University Supervisor and candidate. Triad meetings should occur as early as possible in the semester, and at the end of the semester. The purposes of these meetings are to 1) discuss and agree upon the area of focus for each fieldwork assignment, 2) monitor candidate progress on completion of fieldwork assignments, and 3) discuss issues that may arise.
At any time and when relevant, provide input to the University supervisor regarding the evaluation of the candidate’s fieldwork experience.
Etrieve is a Softdocs electronic document solution that combines document management and electronic forms. The Etrieve system allows our students to complete, review, and submit electronic fieldwork forms through one platform. As a mentor administrator, you will be able to engage with Etrieve via email to complete and approve forms without needing to make an account.