The Mentor Teacher Blueprint: Building Effective Clinical Practice Through School-University Partnerships

Both higher education and P–12 faculty play a critical role in the preparation of new teachers, yet they have traditionally operated in silos. This book, designed to be read and applied immediately, will help teacher preparation programs and schools work together to best prepare preservice teachers. This is accomplished by clearly describing the roles and responsibilities of both groups of stakeholders, specifically with a focus on the preparation of the mentor teacher. The author outlines ways for schools and teacher preparation programs to collaboratively choose, train, and support mentor teachers, along with suggestions for connecting P–12 and higher education faculty more regularly. Driskill provides a replicable blueprint that has been put into practice and found to be effective. School districts and teacher preparation programs can use the blueprint to reform clinical practice, which ultimately puts more highly qualified teachers in more classrooms.

Book Features:

• Offers a proven-effective method for preparing and supporting mentor teachers in clinical practice.
• Focuses on what exactly clinical practice entails, including the roles and responsibilities of teacher prep programs and P–12 schools.
• Explores how mentor teachers are currently identified versus how they should be identified.
• Outlines topics and strategies for initial training and ongoing support for mentor teachers.
• ● Contains specific steps both school districts and teacher preparation programs can take to form successful partnerships.

Kristen M. Driskill is an associate professor of inclusive education at the School of Education, St. John Fisher University. She was co-dean of the School of Education and Social Work and an associate professor of teacher education at Roberts Wesleyan University.