Supporting Services Mentoring Program

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Supporting Services Mentoring Program
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Mentoring Program Definition

• The Mentoring Program of MCPS provides mentors to
  both new employees and existing staff to help
  them excel in their role, direct them to training
  and on-the-job work experiences, and prepare them
  for career development opportunities.

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The Mentoring Program

• Is voluntary
• Pairs a volunteer MCPS employee mentor with an
  employee who is interested in working with a
  mentor/coach
• Helps new employees adjust to their jobs
• Helps existing employees excel in their jobs

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The Mentoring Program

• Provides an opportunity for employees to learn
  about career advancement opportunities
• Provides employees with guidance on useful
  training to work towards personal professional
  goals

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Benefits Of Mentoring

• Mentoring
• Fosters satisfied and productive employees
• Sustains a culture of respect
• Improves recruitment
• Boosts retention
• Increases organizational agility and capacity
• Builds a professional learning community
• Creates a positive work environment in a
  self-renewing organization

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An Example A Bus Driver

• Training new driver participates in extensive
  driver and safety training
• Tutoring a buddy is assigned to a new driver
  for a two-day period to review the MCPS DOT
  policies and procedures new driver drives a run
• Coaching a BRS rides along with a new driver to
  ensure understanding
• Mentoring an employee with supervisory and
  interview skills assists a bus driver who wants
  to apply for a BRS position

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How Does The Program Work?

• Mentee selects mentor from the Supporting
  Services Mentoring Program conference folder on
  Outlook
• Mentee initiates the contact with the mentor
• Mentee reviews mentoring objectives (mentor
  request form) with mentor

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How Does The Program Work?

• If both agree that prospects are positive, they
  schedule a meeting
• They sign a Mentor Mentee Agreement and submit
  copy to mentor coordinator
• They may maintain official mentoring relationship
  for up to 12 months
• If prospects are not positive, mentee seeks
  another mentor candidate

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What Kinds Of Support Should A Mentor ProvideAnd
A Mentee Expect?

• Strategize career opportunity paths within the
  system
• Explore possibilities for new kinds of work
• Suggest sources of training, coaching, and
  tutoring
• Model successful employee practices

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What Kinds Of Support Should A Mentor ProvideAnd
A Mentee Expect?

• Offer tips for contributing to positive workplace
  environment
• Recommend ways to cope with difficult situations
• Provide encouragement and empathy
• Direct towards resources in and out of MCPS for
  personal and professional counseling

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Mentor Basic Requirements

• Be with MCPS for at least five years, be in good
  standing, and be willing to assume this
  responsibility
• Have a breadth of experience, e.g., participation
  in MCPS committees and/or collaboration
  committees, volunteer activities and work
  experiences outside of MCPS

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Mentor Basic Requirements

• Commit to confidentiality of content as it
  relates to mentor relationship
• Employed by MCPS (not restricted to supporting
  services personnel)
• cannot be a supervisor of the mentee

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Mentor Skills

• Communicates effectively (written and verbal)
• Possesses strong interpersonal and
  relationship-building skills
• Demonstrates professionalism
• Exhibits leadership qualities

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Mentor Skills

• Possesses high level organizational skills
• Solves problems efficiently and effectively
• Commits to MCPS and its stakeholders

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Mentor Duties

• Establish a supportive relationship with the
  mentee
• Help the mentee identify skill areas for
  development
• Meet with the mentee for four hours a month
• Maintain a mentor log and submit it online every
  month

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Mentor Duties

• Suggests ways to communicate effectively with
  others
• Promotes awareness about various positions in
  supporting services departments at MCPS
• Provides resources and access to networking
  opportunities

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Mentee Eligibility

• Have permanent status
• Not in PAR or on special evaluation
• Submit a mentor request form

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Mentees Responsibilities

• Commit to the process and be willing to meet
  before and after duty hours
• Be willing to act on feedback from mentor
• Provide feedback on the program

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How Do I Get Started?

• Complete mentor request form
• Review mentor profiles
• Select mentor and initiate contact

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Need More Information

• Contact the Mentor Coordinators
• Betty Montgomery
• Nathalie Bourdereau
• www.montgomeryschoolsmd.org