Proteges
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