DoDDS-Pacific/DDESS-Guam Mentor Programs

A system that cares about the success and effectiveness of schools understands the need to establish programs that introduce new administrators and new teachers to the norms and expectations of the agency. Support provided to new employees will impact the learning of the students we serve. DoDDS-Pacific/DDESS-Guam offers mentoring programs for new administrators and new teachers to the Pacific schools.

The Administrators’ Mentor Program is designed to support new principals and assistant principals in their position as educational leaders. The program is part of our Leading Learning initiative linked to our DoDDS-Pacific/DDESS-Guam Five-Year Professional Development Plan for Administrators.  In addition, this program directly supports our DoDEA Community Strategic Plan Goal 3: Motivated, High Performing, Diverse Workforce, Outcome B: “Continuous Professional Development and Training.”

Program outcomes are:

• To provide new principals and assistant principals with a confidential mentor and coach who will offer direction, support, guidance, feedback and reflection on current practices in the workplace.
• To provide the vehicle to build a network of colleagues to work together as a team, share ideas, problem-solve issues and learn from one another.    
• To provide job embedded professional development training on best practices in instructional leadership. 

The Teacher Mentor Program is designed to support new and veteran teachers. It began with training a small group of volunteers to lead the initiative in their schools. Over the years, the Pacific Director’s Office and district offices have supported and expanded upon the initial training and established Area and local priorities.