Mentors
What Is a Mentor?
A mentor provides guidance, support, and resources to help the protege become better prepared to meet the needs of students with visual impairments.
Who Can Be a Mentor?
Teachers of the Blind and Visually Impaired (TVIs) and Orientation & Mobility Specialists (O&Ms) are eligible to serve as mentors in their respective fields if they meet the following criteria:
- Commitment to serve as a mentor for two years
- A minimum of four years of experience as a TVI or O&M
- Certified Orientation & Mobility Specialist (COMS) credential preferred
- Written administrative approval and support
What Are the Benefits of Being a Mentor?
Mentors have the opportunity to:
- Provide leadership that supports positive change and innovative practices, ensuring quality services for students with visual impairments.
- Increase behavioral, pedagogical, and content knowledge through collaboration with WCBVI coordinators, fellow mentors, and proteges.
- Earn recertification points through the Academy for Certification of Vision Rehabilitation and Education (ACVREP).
- Mentors earn a stipend at the end of the school year for each protege.
What Are Time Requirements for the Mentor?
Mentors are expected to:
- Attend a two-day mentor training during the summer prior to being assigned a protege.
- Participate in annual mentor refresher training, including a half-day virtual session.
- Complete a new mentor training if inactive for five years or more.
Minimum Contact Between Mentor and Protege:
- Conduct one introductory meeting at the start of the school year (the “period of performance”).
- Complete at least one informal in-person observation, where either the mentor or the protege observes the other.
- Attend one shared professional development event, such as a webinar, conference, or district/CESA training.
- Maintain a minimum of two routine contacts per month via text, email, phone, or virtual platform.
- Facilitate a year-end closing meeting between the mentor and protégé to review progress.
Conduct trainings, meetings, and shared professional development virtually if preferred, but complete the required observation in person to ensure a high-quality, authentic assessment of the learning environment and student engagement.
Apply to Be a Mentor:
Please submit the following three forms: