HomeMentorship Program

Mentorship Program for PK-12 Dance Educators

Cohort #4 Application Now Open -- We are accepting up to 25 new Mentors and 25 new Mentees in Fall 2021.

Application submission deadline is September 15, 2021.

Goals:

- To provide a support system for dance educators with fewer than 5 years of experience.

- To provide dance educators with 5 or more years of experience the opportunity to assist new dance educators and examine their own teaching strategies and perspectives.

- To lower the overall attrition of PK-12 dance educators and teaching positions to increase the stability and sustainability of dance education and provide equity of dance education to every child.

The application contains several short and long response questions in regards to environment, teaching philosophy, strengths as an educator, and more. Each mentor/mentee will need to agree the following Guidelines if selected:

2 year commitment
remain a member of NDEO
review the training powerpoint presentations and webinars
set goals and expectations with mentor/mentee
communicate with mentor/mentee partner weekly
complete and submit google log forms monthly
utilize Basecamp for communication
attend 4 Zoom meetings a year

A Mentor or Mentee may be removed from the program for not adhering to the above listed guidelines.

To be considered as a Mentee, you must have fewer than 5 years of dance teaching experience in a PK-12 school.

To be considered as a Mentor, you must have more than 5 years of dance teaching experience in a PK-12 school.

Not a current NDEO Member? First, Sign Up For NDEO Membership, OR renew your expired membership, and then complete this application. Both Mentor and Mentee must be current NDEO members.

Video Blogs by Current K-12 Mentors/Mentees

Hear directly from current mentors and mentees in the program by viewing video blogs reflecting on their time in the program.

The program serves as a support system for PK-12 dance teachers with fewer than five years of experience (mentees) in the PK-12 field of dance education. It will also give dance teachers with five or more years of experience in PK-12 (mentors) an opportunity to reach out and assist new educators.

With the National Dance Education Organization’s leadership and technical support, the Mentorship Committee will select mentors and mentees for a third cohort based on the applications received. It is our hope that the mentor/mentee relationship will be ongoing and enriching.

New PK-12 dance educators will be paired with experienced dance education mentors, basing matches on criteria such as similar job attributes, disposition and philosophical outlook, and needs. Both mentor and mentee should plan for a two year commitment, however it may continue and grow in an alternate form for as long as the participants wish.

To find out more, please click here - PreK-12 Mentorship Program Background Doc as of 8-13-19

Mentors

As a mentor, you will have the opportunity to further examine your process and beliefs and draw from your experience as an educator as you guide a newer dance teacher, significantly contributing to the sustainability of the PK-12 dance education field. If you work in a district with a qualified teacher evaluation system, your participation in the NDEO PK – 12 Mentorship Program may provide exceptional evidence of your service to the field, thus supporting strong ratings.

Mentees

We learn something new every day. This is especially so during the first few years of teaching in PK-12 as you work to juggle teaching responsibilities, curriculum development, program administration, performance productions and your teacher evaluation and tenure process. As a mentee, you will have the support of an experienced mentor/coach selected to match your personal disposition and current teaching situation.

Application Process

To Submit the Application to become part of this program, as either a Mentor or Mentee, you must be a current NDEO member and remain a member throughout the duration of the relationship. Both mentor and mentee should plan for a two year commitment, however it may continue and grow in an alternate form for as long as the participants wish.

Deadlines to apply is: Monday, September 15, 2021 by 11:59 PM EST.
- This application contains several short and long response questions in regards to environment, teaching philosophy, strengths as an educator, and more.
Mentorship Pairs should be announced in late October 2021

Questions? Please contact the Mentorship Committee at mentorship@ndeo.org.

Photos by Rob Cannon at 2016 NDEO National Conference.