LCS - Teacher Mentor

New Teacher Support Mentor

The New Teacher Support Mentor is a retired educator who serves as a non-evaluative resource for newly hired teachers during their first year of employment. The mentor supports the Human Resources Department's efforts to improve employee engagement, increase retention, foster positive workplace experiences, and assist new teachers in successfully acclimating to the culture, expectations, and operations of Lamar County Schools. The mentor serves as a trusted advisor who helps new teachers navigate the challenges associated with beginning their careers while connecting them with appropriate district resources and support systems.

This position focuses on employee onboarding, relationship-building, and retention rather than instructional coaching or evaluation.

Duties and Responsibilities:

• Establish and maintain supportive, professional relationships with assigned new teachers.
• Conduct regular contact with assigned mentees through in-person meetings, phone calls, email, text messaging, or virtual meetings.
• Assist new teachers in understanding district culture, expectations, procedures, and workplace practices.
• Provide guidance related to organization, time management, work-life balance, communication, and other professional responsibilities.
• Promote employee engagement by helping new teachers develop positive connections within their schools and throughout the district.
• Identify concerns that may affect employee morale, job satisfaction, attendance, or retention and communicate appropriate concerns to the Human Resources Department.
• Encourage new teachers to utilize district resources, employee assistance programs, wellness initiatives, and professional learning opportunities.
• Assist new teachers in locating information regarding district procedures, benefits, leave policies, payroll, and other employment-related matters.
• Maintain appropriate boundaries by serving in a supportive, non-supervisory, and non-evaluative role.
• Participate in mentor orientation, annual training sessions, and mentor meetings as scheduled by the Human Resources Department.
• Maintain documentation of mentor contacts and submit reports as required.
• Support Human Resources initiatives related to onboarding, employee engagement, and retention.
• Assist with new teacher networking events, support meetings, and other district-sponsored activities as assigned.
• Demonstrate professionalism, discretion, and confidentiality when working with employees and district personnel.
• Assume responsibility for your own professional growth and development and attend training sessions as required by the district.
• Maintain and accept responsibility for any district-owned fixed asset item assigned to employees and ensure appropriate use by following district policies for acceptable use.
• Undergo periodic evaluations according to state and board policy procedures.
• Maintain confidentiality.
• Regular, timely/dependable, in-person attendance is an essential function of this position.
• Perform such other and not specifically enumerated duties as may be requested by the Board of Education, superintendent, administrator, director, or established by district policy, state, or federal guidelines.
• Read, understand, and abide by Employee Conduct Policy, all other district policies and applicable procedures and protocols as established by LCS, and Mississippi Educator Code of Conduct.

Qualifications:

• Educator in good standing.
• Minimum of ten (10) years successful experience in K-12 education.
• Demonstrated ability to build positive relationships and effectively communicate with adults.
• Strong interpersonal, organizational, and problem-solving skills.
• Ability to maintain confidentiality and professional boundaries.
• Ability to work independently and collaboratively with district personnel.
• Experience as a mentor teacher, instructional coach, administrator, department chair, or teacher leader preferred.
• Knowledge of Lamar County Schools policies, procedures, and culture preferred.

Other Requirements:

• Required references and background check.

Physical Demands:

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to perform the essential functions of this job successfully. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Work Environment:

The work environment is not a standard office setting; but rather encompasses the entire active school campus both inside and outside the facilities. The noise level in the work environment is usually low to moderate and occasionally high.

Terms of Employment:

Salary, days and work year as established by the Lamar County Board of Education. Evaluation:
Performance of this job will be evaluated in accordance with the provisions of the Lamar County School Board policy on Evaluation of Employees.