91-41-1. Definitions.
(a) "Board" means any local board of education.
(b) "Certificated" or "licensed" means holding a valid certificate or license issued by the state board.
(c) "Continuous assistance" means ongoing, structured, and unstructured contact throughout the school year.
(d) "Kansas exemplary educators network" means the Kansas teacher of the year program, Milken family foundation national educator awards program, presidential award for excellence in math and science teaching, and the Christa McAuliffe fellowship program.
(e) "Mentor teacher" means a certificated or licensed teacher who meets the following criteria:
- Has completed at least three consecutive school years of employment in the same school district;
- has been selected by the board on the basis of having demonstrated exemplary teaching ability as indicated by criteria established by the state board in these regulations; and
- has participated in, and successfully completed, a training program for mentor teachers provided for by the board in accordance with guidelines prescribed by the state board.
(f) "Mentor teacher program" means a program established and maintained by a board for the purpose of providing probationary teachers with the professional support and continuous assistance of an on-site mentor teacher.
(g) "On-site" means at the location where a probationary teacher is assigned.
(h) "Probationary teacher" means a certificated or licensed teacher to whom the provisions of K.S.A. 72-5438 through 72-5443, and amendments thereto, do not apply.
(i) "School year" means July 1 through June 30.
(j) "State board" means the state board of education.
(k) "Training" means professional development provided to mentor teachers to enable them to support and assist probationary teachers.
91-41-4. Criteria for determining exemplary teaching ability for qualification as a mentor teacher.
(a) Each board making application for a grant of state moneys for a mentor teacher program shall submit a completed application to the state board on or before August 1 of the school year.
(b) Each board receiving state funds for a mentor teacher program shall submit an annual evaluation report to the state board. The report shall be submitted on or before June 30.
91-41-3. Criteria for evaluating applications and approving mentor teacher programs.
Each board applying for approval of a mentor teacher program shall submit an application containing the following statements and descriptions: (a) A statement of the district's purpose or purposes for establishment of the mentor teacher program;
(b) a description of the year-long continuous assistance activities to be provided under the program, including a description of the structured contact time between the mentor teacher and the probationary teacher and the unstructured opportunities to be provided under the program;
(c) a description of the expectations for district administrators in supporting the program;
(d) a description of how the mentor teacher program aligns with other professional development initiatives in the district;
(e) a description of the method to be used to assign a mentor teacher to a probationary teacher giving consideration to endorsement areas, grade levels, and building assignment;
(f) a description of the process to be used for reassignment of a successor mentor if the original mentor is unable to fulfill responsibilities; and
(g) a description of how the program will establish ongoing professional development and support for each mentor teacher under the program.
91-41-2. General requirements.
In determining whether a teacher has demonstrated exemplary teaching ability for qualification as a mentor teacher, each board shall consider the following criteria:
(a) Professional competency as indicated by the board's most recent evaluation of the teacher under K.S.A. 72-9001 through K.S.A. 72-9006, and amendments thereto, including competency in the teacher's area of certification or licensure, effective communication skills, and efficacy of instruction; and
(b) recognition, if any, under national or state programs, including the national board teaching certification program and the Kansas exemplary educators network.