Program Overview
The Pennsylvania State Modern Language Association (PSMLA) Peer Mentoring Program is designed to support novice world language teachers while simultaneously recognizing and further developing teacher leadership among experienced Pennsylvania world language educators. PSMLA members with fewer than three years of teaching experience are invited to apply to be mentees. Mentor applicants are also expected to be PSMLA members and should have at least eight years of experience teaching a world language. Applications are accepted through June 30 in order to match mentors/mentees for the following school year.
Program Goals
Benefits for Mentors
Benefits for Mentees
Expectations
Peer Mentors are expected to work collaboratively to develop strategic, observable, and measurable goals to support mentees in the development of effective and sustainable communicative teaching practices. Mentor/Mentee pairs will establish personalized goals at three intervals during the year-long fellowship and will evaluate and reflect upon their success at the end of each interval.
Peer Mentors are asked to stay in regular communication with each other and document the form and frequency of their contact. Specifically, mentors and mentees should log at least one synchronous contact (virtual or in-person) each month. In addition, virtual meetings will be held periodically for all program participants to encourage deeper connections, facilitate a broader exchange of ideas and experiences, and further orient members to program expectations.
While most interactions throughout the program can be conducted virtually, mentors and mentees are expected to attend the PSMLA Fall Conference in-person and engage in program-specific session(s).
The PSMLA Peer Mentoring Program expects a year-long commitment from both mentors and mentees. Mentees that have successfully engaged a year of mentorship, however, will have the opportunity to extend their participation an additional year if desired to be partnered with an additional mentor.
How to Participate
Applications are accepted through June 30. Mentor/Mentee pairs are established during the summer in order to begin as of the Virtual Program Kickoff Meeting in late August. To apply, follow the appropriate link below:
Questions?
Please direct any questions you may have to Dr. Rich Madel at rmadel@colonialsd.org.
Sponsored by
For general information about PSMLA, including membership and registration, please contact:
For questions related to the website, please contact:
To submit items for PSMLA News Updates, please read the instructions and contact:
To submit items for PSMLA's Twitter or Facebook accounts, contact: