Supporting Services Supporting Services Mentoring ProgramMentoring Program

Mentoring Program Mentoring Program DefinitionDefinition

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

The Mentoring Program The Mentoring Program ……

Is voluntaryIs voluntary Pairs a volunteer MCPS employee Pairs a volunteer MCPS employee

mentor with an employee who is mentor with an employee who is interested in working with a mentor/coachinterested in working with a mentor/coach

Helps new employees adjust to their jobsHelps new employees adjust to their jobs Helps existing employees excel in their Helps existing employees excel in their

jobsjobs

The Mentoring Program The Mentoring Program ……

Provides an opportunity for employees to Provides an opportunity for employees to learn about career advancement learn about career advancement opportunitiesopportunities

Provides employees with guidance on Provides employees with guidance on useful training to work towards personal useful training to work towards personal professional goalsprofessional goals

Benefits Of MentoringBenefits Of Mentoring

Mentoring…Mentoring… Fosters satisfied and productive employeesFosters satisfied and productive employees Sustains a culture of respectSustains a culture of respect Improves recruitmentImproves recruitment Boosts retentionBoosts retention Increases organizational agility and capacityIncreases organizational agility and capacity Builds a professional learning communityBuilds a professional learning community Creates a positive work environment in a self-Creates a positive work environment in a self-

renewing organizationrenewing organization

An Example – A Bus DriverAn Example – A Bus Driver

Training – new driver participates in Training – new driver participates in extensive driver and safety trainingextensive driver and safety training

Tutoring – a buddy is assigned to a new Tutoring – a buddy is assigned to a new driver for a two-day period to review the driver for a two-day period to review the MCPS DOT policies and procedures; new MCPS DOT policies and procedures; new driver drives a run driver drives a run

Coaching – a BRS rides along with a new Coaching – a BRS rides along with a new driver to ensure understandingdriver to ensure understanding

Mentoring – an employee with supervisory Mentoring – an employee with supervisory and interview skills assists a bus driver who and interview skills assists a bus driver who wants to apply for a BRS positionwants to apply for a BRS position

How Does The Program How Does The Program Work?Work?

Mentee selects mentor from the Mentee selects mentor from the Supporting Services Mentoring Program Supporting Services Mentoring Program conference folder on Outlook conference folder on Outlook

Mentee initiates the contact with the Mentee initiates the contact with the mentor mentor

Mentee reviews mentoring objectives Mentee reviews mentoring objectives (mentor request form) with mentor(mentor request form) with mentor

How Does The Program How Does The Program Work?Work?

If both agree that prospects are positive, If both agree that prospects are positive, they schedule a meetingthey schedule a meeting

They sign a Mentor – Mentee Agreement They sign a Mentor – Mentee Agreement and submit copy to mentor coordinatorand submit copy to mentor coordinator

They may maintain official mentoring They may maintain official mentoring relationship for up to 12 monthsrelationship for up to 12 months

If prospects are not positive, mentee If prospects are not positive, mentee seeks another mentor candidateseeks another mentor candidate

What Kinds Of Support Should A What Kinds Of Support Should A Mentor Provide…And A Mentee Mentor Provide…And A Mentee Expect?Expect?

Strategize career opportunity paths Strategize career opportunity paths within the systemwithin the system

Explore possibilities for new kinds of Explore possibilities for new kinds of workwork

Suggest sources of training, coaching, Suggest sources of training, coaching, and tutoringand tutoring

Model successful employee practicesModel successful employee practices

What Kinds Of Support Should A What Kinds Of Support Should A Mentor Provide…And A Mentee Mentor Provide…And A Mentee Expect?Expect?

Offer tips for contributing to positive Offer tips for contributing to positive workplace environmentworkplace environment

Recommend ways to cope with difficult Recommend ways to cope with difficult situationssituations

Provide encouragement and empathyProvide encouragement and empathy Direct towards resources in and out of Direct towards resources in and out of

MCPS for personal and professional MCPS for personal and professional counselingcounseling

Mentor Basic RequirementsMentor Basic Requirements

Be with MCPS for at least five years, be Be with MCPS for at least five years, be in good standing, and be willing to in good standing, and be willing to assume this responsibilityassume this responsibility

Have a breadth of experience, e.g., Have a breadth of experience, e.g., participation in MCPS committees and/or participation in MCPS committees and/or collaboration committees, volunteer collaboration committees, volunteer activities and work experiences outside activities and work experiences outside of MCPSof MCPS

Mentor Basic RequirementsMentor Basic Requirements

Commit to confidentiality of content as it Commit to confidentiality of content as it relates to mentor relationshiprelates to mentor relationship

Employed by MCPS (not restricted to Employed by MCPS (not restricted to supporting services personnel)*supporting services personnel)*

* cannot be a supervisor of the mentee* cannot be a supervisor of the mentee

Mentor SkillsMentor Skills

Communicates effectively (written and Communicates effectively (written and verbal)verbal)

Possesses strong interpersonal and Possesses strong interpersonal and relationship-building skillsrelationship-building skills

Demonstrates professionalismDemonstrates professionalism Exhibits leadership qualitiesExhibits leadership qualities

Mentor SkillsMentor Skills

Possesses high level organizational skillsPossesses high level organizational skills Solves problems efficiently and Solves problems efficiently and

effectivelyeffectively Commits to MCPS and its stakeholdersCommits to MCPS and its stakeholders

Mentor DutiesMentor Duties

Establish a supportive relationship with Establish a supportive relationship with the menteethe mentee

Help the mentee identify skill areas for Help the mentee identify skill areas for developmentdevelopment

Meet with the mentee for four hours a Meet with the mentee for four hours a monthmonth

Maintain a mentor log and submit it Maintain a mentor log and submit it online every monthonline every month

Mentor DutiesMentor Duties

Suggests ways to communicate Suggests ways to communicate effectively with otherseffectively with others

Promotes awareness about various Promotes awareness about various positions in supporting services positions in supporting services departments at MCPSdepartments at MCPS

Provides resources and access to Provides resources and access to networking opportunitiesnetworking opportunities

Mentee EligibilityMentee Eligibility

Have permanent statusHave permanent status Not in PAR or on special evaluationNot in PAR or on special evaluation Submit a mentor request formSubmit a mentor request form

Mentee’s ResponsibilitiesMentee’s Responsibilities

Commit to the process and be willing to Commit to the process and be willing to meet before and after duty hoursmeet before and after duty hours

Be willing to act on feedback from mentorBe willing to act on feedback from mentor Provide feedback on the programProvide feedback on the program

How Do I Get Started?How Do I Get Started?

Complete mentor request formComplete mentor request form Review mentor profilesReview mentor profiles Select mentor and initiate contact Select mentor and initiate contact

Need More InformationNeed More Information

Contact the Mentor Coordinators:Contact the Mentor Coordinators:

Betty MontgomeryBetty Montgomery

Nathalie Bourdereau Nathalie Bourdereau

www.montgomeryschoolsmd.orgwww.montgomeryschoolsmd.org