Endorsement Program Handbook

1. A valid Washington state teaching certificate

2. Three years of certificated teaching experience

3. An endorsement in the content area your candidate is seeking

Often, endorsement candidates hold a valid teaching certificate and have their own classroom. They are seeking to add an additional endorsement to their certificate through aligned courses and a practicum experience where their newly acquired knowledge and pedagogy is applied. As such, your responsibility as a mentor is to serve as a resource and support for your candidate in regard to their desired endorsement area. You may even invite them to join your Professional Learning Community (PLC).

Your mentorship may look like providing daily guidance, constructive feedback, and information sharing such as:

Providing feedback and guidance around lesson planning, assessment, and intervention

District curriculum guidelines or materials

Instructional procedures and strategies

Classroom, school, and district discipline policies

Classroom management rules and routines

Planning strategies and philosophies

Unit plans, daily plans, and/or lesson plans

Student assessment strategies

Strategies for communicating with parents/guardians, students, and staff

Strategies to provide for different learning styles and needs

Equity practices in the classroom

Personal knowledge and experience

School and/or district policies and procedures

Emergency Procedures

At the end of the Practicum, you must:

1. Sign your candidate's Hour Log
2. Complete the Mentor Feedback Form

Please also complete the Mentor Agreement Form to receive both clock hours and a stipend.