UW College of Education Launches New Mentoring Program to Support Emerging Teachers

The University of Wyoming College of Education has launched the Wyoming Teacher-Mentor Corps (WTMC), an innovative new program designed to foster teacher excellence by providing expert support for emerging teachers. The community of mentors will help teacher candidates excel in the classroom.

Decades of scholarship show the importance and value of expert support at two key parts of an emerging teacher’s career: the pre-service phase and the induction phase. The WTMC will offer thoughtful supervision and mentorship at each of these phases.

The WTMC is seeking 20 educators from across Wyoming to participate in the inaugural cohort that will begin in June. These Mentor Fellows will play a role in shaping the future of the Wyoming economy and establish professional connections with educators across the state.

Nominees should be experts in the field of education; have a desire to share their knowledge and skills with others; and view mentorship as an opportunity to learn.

Mentor Fellows must commit to participating in two three-day summer institutes held at UW; two fall retreats and one spring in-person retreat; and quarterly, virtual community-of-practice gatherings.

The nomination period is open and runs until 4 p.m. Friday, April 1. Nominations can be made by any member of the school community, including teachers, staff members, school leaders, parents, and school board and community members. Self-nominations also are accepted. The WTMC welcomes a wide variety of individuals with a range of professional experiences and backgrounds to become Mentor Fellows.

Mentor Fellows can receive a stipend of up to $1,500 for attending both summer institutes and completing all program requirements. Additionally, the UW College of Education will cover all substitute teacher and travel costs for Mentor Fellows.

Nominations can be made here.

UW will lead the WTMC program in collaboration with the Wyoming Department of Education, the Wyoming Education Association, the Wyoming Association of School Administrators, the Wyoming School Boards Association and the Wyoming School-University Partnership.

For more information, visit the WTMC webpage. For additional questions, call Colby Gull, managing director of the UW Trustees Education Initiative, at (307) 766-3196 or email colby.gull@uwyo.edu.