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Proteges

Two CESA 8 Teachers of the Visually Impaired in their warm coats.

A protege will be assigned a mentor, whose role is to provide guidance, support and resources so that the protégé will be better prepared to meet the needs of students with visual impairments.

Who can be a protege?

  • TVIs who are newly-licensed and working in the field may receive mentoring services until fully licensed
  • 1st year TVI or O&M who has completed a program will receive mentoring services for one year with an optional second year
  • TVI or O&M who is new to the state or re-entering the profession will receive mentoring services for one year with an optional second year

*In Wisconsin, an O&M must have completed an O&M program approved by the Association for Education and Rehabilitation of the Blind and Visually Impaired (AER) and hold a valid O&M license from DPI. For information about obtaining an O&M license, please visit the DPI O&M License page

To participate in this program as a Teacher of the Visually Impaired protege, you must have a current teaching license. For information about obtaining a teaching license, please visit the DPI Educator License page.

If you have a license based on reciprocity, please visit the DPI Pathways to Licensure page.

Benefits for proteges:

  • Opportunities for same-certification collaboration and problem solving
  • Increased professional expertise through modeling
  • Partner with and receive support from an experienced colleague in the unique field of vision

Minimum contact between mentor and protege includes the following:

  • One introductory meeting at the beginning of the period of performance school year. 
  • A minimum of one informal observation: mentor observes protege or protege observes mentor during the period of performance school year.
  • One shared professional development event (e.g., webinar, conference, district/CESA/agency professional development)
  • A minimum of two routine contacts per month (e.g., text, email, phone, mail, virtual platform, in person)
  • End of the year meeting with mentor

* trainings, meetings, observations, shared professional development may be virtual

Apply to be a protege: