Mentoring & Coaching

All first-time, first-year lead/head principals starting in the 2022-2023 school year are eligible for mentoring at no cost.

All other new school leaders (deans, assistant/associate principals, principals ineligible for free mentoring, directors, etc.) may contract for paid mentoring.

For the Mentee. The first year for a new school leader is often a lonely one. New school leaders are often reluctant to ask for help for fear of being seen as incompetent. Mentoring provides the following psychological, social, and professional growth benefits to new school leaders:

• Indoctrination into the profession and role clarification.
• Improved school culture.
• Improved leadership skills.
• Improved management skills.
• Improved reflection skills.
• Improved communication skills.
• Improved problem-solving skills.
• Improved time-management skills.
• Confidence in instructional leadership.
• Advancement of professional values.
• Trusted confidante and advisor for the transition into leadership.
• Eased burden of first year challenges.
• Support, encouragement, affirmation, understanding, information, resources, and interactions with other leaders.

For the Mentor. The mentoring relationship not only benefits the novice school leader but benefits the mentor as well. Researchers have reported the following benefits to mentors:

• Collegiality.
• Personal reflection and evaluation.
• Gratification.
• Inspiration from protégé.
• Ongoing professional development.
• Enhanced school culture of the mentor.
• Expanded relationships with key stakeholders.

IPA follows a thorough application process in vetting its mentors. In addition to having experience as a school leader, they must be knowledgeable of the school organization, must be patient, have the ability to understand others, and possess good listening and communication skills. Additionally, they must:

• Demonstrate a passion for leadership and the role of the principal as the lead learner in a building.
• Believe everyone has the capacity and desire for growth.
• Be respected by peers and leaders for professional knowledge and skills.
• Value equity, developing their own cultural proficiency, and fostering culturally responsive systems and practices.
• Set high expectations for self and others.
• Seek growth through feedback, reflection, coaching, and ongoing professional learning.
• Work to effect change.
• Take initiative and follow through with responsibilities.
• Prioritize effectively and manage time well in an unstructured environment.
• Demonstrate positive, open, honest, and sensitive communications with colleagues, students, staff, and parents.
• Respect confidentiality.
• Build rapport and trusting relationships with students and adults.
• Listen with compassion and empathy and addresses conflict proactively.
• Be proficient in state and nationally recognized leadership standards.
• Create a community of mutual respect and appreciation for differences.
• Understand and translates research and theory into practical application.
• Hold or have held a principal license and have documented successful contracted job alike principal experience.

The pairing of the mentor to the mentee is the largest factor in developing a strong and effective relationship. IPA takes the following into consideration to ensure an effective pairing process:

• Geography/location
• Gender
• Race
• School and community context
• Professional goals and needs (i.e., General leadership; climate and culture; family and community involvement; school improvement planning and implementation; teaching and learning; curriculum and instruction; teacher evaluation and capacity building; assessment; and operations and management)
• Interpersonal styles
• Learning needs

The IPA mentor will provide expertise in the administrator’s specific role and needs as well as in the school/district stage of development and situation. The new administrator will receive a wide variety of mentoring support including instructional and collaborative goal setting, action planning, and monitoring of results and impact. Mentoring will be provided to support the new administrator in not only meeting daily responsibilities for operations, management, supervision, and teacher development, but also to create a positive school culture and establish performance expectations and supports to ensure sustained success.

The Mentor Will:

• Provide 20, 40 or 60 hours of confidential mentoring (based on contract).
• Maintain regular contact with a minimum of three onsite mentoring sessions supplemented with virtual as well as phone, text, and email support.
• Maintain a log of services delivered, including the establishment of goals and an action plan.
• Guide the development and implementation of leadership entry plan.
• Establish environmental intelligence regarding building, operations, staff, students, parents, community and school culture and environment.
• Effectively advise and support the new administrator in decision making, strategic planning and goal setting.
• Employ collaborative, instructional and reflective coaching techniques to develop leadership for increased staff and student performance.
• Assist in the development of the leader’s professional network of support.

• Full access to the Ed Leaders Network (ELN).
• Inclusion in the ELN Connect New Leader Community providing the opportunity to collaborate with new leaders and mentors from around the state and nation.
• Regional support from IPA Field Coordinators and Association Leaders.
• And More!

LEAD/HEAD Principals in Illinois Public or Public Charter Schools are eligible for free mentoring support in their first year of service. This program will extend to 2022-2023 and 2023-2024 for first-year principals serving in those subsequent years.

• 2021-2022: Free
• 2022-2023: Free
• 2023-2024: Free

Other School Leaders Seeking Mentoring Support (Assistant or Associate Principals, Deans, Principals beyond their first year of service, private school principals, etc.)

• 20 HOURS | Member – $1,749 | Nonmember – $2,629
• 40 HOURS | Member – $2,999 | Nonmember – $4,499
• 60 HOURS | Member – $4,249 | Nonmember – $6,374