Office of Leadership and Professional Development

Principals,

Attached you will find a one page overview of the Beginning Teacher Support for 2017-18 along with the most
current mentor assignments. We will make the full program plan available to you on Canvas as well.
Please expect your Full Release Mentor to make contact with you this week to schedule the Beginning of Year
meeting. We appreciate you taking time to meet with your mentor to set the focus for the year and discuss
important aspects of the program.

Additionally, please remember that Full Release Mentors will serve all Beginning teachers through
professional learning and monthly meetings but their school visits will focus on first year teachers in order to
strengthen our supports in year one. Please forward this info to your BT Coordinator and Assistant Principals
as needed.

Thanks so much!!! We look forward to a great year. Please don't hesitate to contact me with questions.

2107 Hillandale Road. ∙ Durham, North Carolina 27705∙ (919) 560-2889 ∙ Jennifer. Nifong@dpsnc.net
 Office of Leadership and Professional Development

Department of Leadership and Professional Development

Full Release Mentors Program Plan 2017-2018
Our Mission
The mentors of Durham Public Schools aim to orient beginning teachers to the educational environment and are committed to
the vision of the education profession. We support our beginning teachers’ professional, emotional, and physical well-being by
building strong, trusting relationships.

Guiding Policies
The DPS Full Release Mentor Program adheres to the NC State Board Policy which requires all LEAs/Charters implement a three-
year Beginning Teacher Support Program (BTSP), for beginning teachers.

STANDARD OF SERVICE
The Standard of Service for BTs includes one-on-one service from FRMs weekly with BT1s. School Based Mentors will continue
to provide support for BT2s bi-weekly and BT3s monthly.
All BTs will be served by the Full Release Mentors through Professional Development offered monthly and through consult upon
request.
The table below provides details on the nature of the service provided.

Service Monthly PLC/PD Meeting Additional PD Requirements

BT1 Weekly Contact with Monthly PLC/PD attendance required Choose one additional PD session per quarter
Full Release Mentor from the Global Sessions and/or the DEA Sessions.

BT2 Consult (upon Monthly PLC attendance required Choose one additional PD session per semester
request or by need) Once per quarter stay for the PD from the Global Sessions and/or the DEA Sessions.

BT3 Consult (upon Monthly PLC attendance required Choose one additional PD session per year from
request or by need) Once per semester stay for the PD the Global Sessions and/or the DEA Sessions.

BT Monthly PLC/PD Calendar 2017-2018

Monthly PLC/PD meetings will be held at the Staff Development Center and facilitated by the Full Release Mentors. The PLC
portion will be the first 30 minutes and is required for all beginning teachers regardless of status. The last 60 minutes will be PD
relevant to the needs of a beginning teacher
*Tuesday-Secondary *Wednesday- Elementary Cohort 1 *Thursday-Elementary Cohort 2
Cohort list link goo.gl/UdQtok

Date Audience Location Time

Aug 22 Year Round & Early Start--Both Elementary & Secondary SDC 4:30-6:00
Introduction to the BT Program/Bull City Schools United Presentation

Sept 19-21 Traditional SDC 4:30-6:00

Introduction to the BT Program/Bull City Schools United Presentation

Oct 25 Out of the Box Session TBD TBD

Nov 14-16 Jan 16-18 Year Round, Early Start, Traditional SDC 4:30-6:00
Apr 24-26 Feb 20-22
May 22-24 Mar 20-22
Dec 12-15 Apr 22-24

2107 Hillandale Road. ∙ Durham, North Carolina 27705∙ (919) 560-2889 ∙ Jennifer. Nifong@dpsnc.net
 Office of Leadership and Professional Development

May 22-24

2107 Hillandale Road. ∙ Durham, North Carolina 27705∙ (919) 560-2889 ∙ Jennifer. Nifong@dpsnc.net