The Teacher Education department offers two types of mentorship programs.
Become a faculty mentor
What is a faculty mentor?
A faculty mentor supports and evaluates teacher candidates' growth as they work through their practicum experiences toward certification readiness. This position is a part-time opportunity that takes place from October to November and then from February to May.
What are the responsibilities of a faculty mentor?
- Design experiences for teacher candidates so they have adequate information, preparation, instruction, and supervision during their practicum experiences.
- Provide feedback as needed to help your teacher candidates identify strengths and areas of needed growth in relation to Teacher Education values and goals.
- Work in partnership with the department head, academic advisor, teacher mentors, and program coordinator(s).
- Develop systematic, ongoing, and consistent procedures for observing and recording information about teacher candidates’ work in the school setting.
- Discuss your teacher candidates’ professional development and assess your teacher candidates’ progress in reaching certification readiness in relation to the goals of the Teacher Education department.
- Attend teacher mentor and teacher candidate orientations and faculty mentor meetings.
- Independently write, discuss, and receive feedback from your teacher candidate and teacher mentor on your final report for EDUC 492 and formalize the closure of the placement.
What qualifications should a faculty mentor have?
Applicants should demonstrate abilities in the following areas:
- Extensive experience mentoring in schools.
- Extensive experience teaching in public schools.
- Strong written and oral communication skills.
- Proven ability to work collaboratively with others.
- Effective problem solver who can manage conflict in a productive and professional manner.
- Strong familiarity with BC curriculum.
- Experience with local school districts served by UFV’s Teacher Education department.
- Willing to drive to various sites in the Fraser Valley as needed.
- Held, at one point, a valid BC teaching certificate in good standing.
How to submit an expression of interest to be a faculty mentor?
Your expression of interest should include the following documents:
- A cover letter addressing why you wish to be considered for the position of faculty mentor at UFV.
- A CV demonstrating how you meet the qualifications listed above.
- A minimum of two referees who can speak to your ability to mentor new teachers.
Please send your completed expression of interest to soeinfo@ufv.ca. Expression of interest will be kept on file for two years.
Short-listed candidates will be contacted in late spring for the following school year.
Become a teacher mentor
The Teacher Education Department places Teacher Candidates in K-12 public schools within the Fraser Valley for the two field experiences, EDUC 490 (School Experience) and EDUC 492 (Certifying Practicum).
If you are a K-12 public school teacher interested in supporting the development of a UFV teacher candidate, please speak with your school principal about your interest.
A teacher enrolled in the UFV MEd who mentors a UFV BEd teacher candidate during practicum is eligible for a graduate stipend equivalent to 2 credits ($1,141), to be administered at the end of the MEd program.
For more information, download our Teacher Mentor Handbook.
