Agenda VI.H
In attendance: Robert Brower, Ed Burkhalter, Cynthia Finney, Steve Heck, Deb Lecklider, Rebecca Libler, Miriam Matthews, Denna Renbarger, Richard Roames, Ena Shelly, Shawn Sriver, and Earl Williams.
Unable to attend: Lindan Hill, Tom Hunter, Kathleen Sherman.
The committee opened with a review of the 1998-99 accomplishments. At that point, efforts were made to identify and prioritize critical issues to be addressed during the 1999-2000 period.
Unfinished challenges include:
* The specific details of a pilot program still need to be developed. This includes implementation, selection of pilot sites/candidates, timelines, assessment, finance, etc. The Standing External Committee for Building Level Administrators recommends that it continue with the charge of developing the process for the pilot.
* Given that personality clashes may occur among mentor team members, as well as the logistical concern related to administrators available to mentor, the committee will need to explore options. This might include allowing a district superintendent to substitute team members. In addition, we need to determine if it might, at times, be appropriate for the inductee administrator to require a membership change.
* The committee will need to discuss and recommend strategies to ensure reliability of the process. This might include a Mentor Pool Advisory Board that would meet periodically to maintain consistency in assessment strategies, as well as to actively prepare and support the Mentor Pool Advisors.
* At the Accomplished Practitioner Licensure level, the committee will need to explore and recommend guidelines to ensure continued growth of the administrator.
Mentor team. Some members of the committee expressed concerns about the language approved by the committee last spring relative to the selection of mentor team members. One specific suggestion was to include the Indiana Principal Leadership Academy included as a supplier of mentors.
After considerable discussion, the language was revised to read:
d.2. Selected by IPSB from a pool recommended by state administrator groups.
2.1 Criteria for recommendation:
* Five years experience
* No more than five years retired, unless evidence of continued professional involvement.
* Certified as a mentor through an approved mentor training program.
2.2 Certification as a mentor:
* Mentor training program approved by IPSB through Indiana Association of School Principals (IASP).
* Training includes portfolio development and analysis.
* Understands and supports standards.
* Trained in team leadership.