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BECOME A MENTOR

Become a Mentor for Child Care Aware of Minnesota

Are you a lead teacher or a family child care provider who wants to help early childhood educators grow and thrive in their careers? Child Care Aware of Minnesota offers two different mentorship programs for you! The Empower to Educate Mentorship Program and T.E.A.C.H. Apprenticeship Program are here to support your growth and development as a teacher, leader, and mentor as you nurture the next generation of early childhood professionals. You will be part of a supportive community with opportunities to connect with other mentors from around the state.

EMPOWER TO EDUCATE MENTOR
  • Time commitment:
    • Complete an 8-week online mentor training course.
    • Mentor an Empower to Educate participant mentee for 6 months
      • Weekly 30-minute communication with your mentee virtually or in person.
      • Monthly 60 to 90-minute meeting with your mentee virtually or in person.
      • Attend monthly, virtual one hour Empower to Educate Mentor Community Check-Ins with fellow mentors.

 

  • Compensation:
    • $1,500 for completing the mentor training and first 6-month mentoring commitment.
    • $1,000 for each subsequent 6-month mentoring commitment.

 

  • Eligibility:
    • Educational Requirements
      • Preferred: Bachelor’s degree in early childhood or related field.
      • Minimum: Current Child Development Associate (CDA) credential and some college-level coursework.
    • Work Experience Requirements
      • Currently employed as a lead teacher in a licensed or certified child care center or as the license holder in a family child care program in Minnesota.
      • At least three years of experience.
T.E.A.C.H. MENTOR
  • Time commitment:
    • Mentor a T.E.A.C.H. Apprentice for 12 – 24 months.
      • Weekly communication with your apprentice virtually or in person.
      • Monthly 60 to 90-minute meeting with your apprentice virtually or in person.
      • Perform three two-hour observations in the apprentice’s classroom over the course of 12 months.
      • Mentors may be paired with a maximum of two apprentices.
      • Attend a monthly, virtual 60-minute Mentor Community Check-In with fellow mentors from across Minnesota.

 

  • Compensation:
    • $500 after completing a free, initial mentor training.
    • $3,500 for a 12-month mentorship commitment.

 

  • Eligibility:
    • Educational Requirements
      • Preferred: Bachelor’s degree in early childhood.
      • Minimum: Associate or Bachelor’s degree in early childhood or related field.
    • Work Experience Requirements
      • Currently employed as a lead teacher in a licensed or certified child care center.
      • At least three years of experience working as a lead teacher in a licensed or certified child care center.
      • Preferred: employed at the same child care center as the apprentice.
GETTING STARTED

Please complete a Mentor Interest Form to let us know you’re interested and to learn about upcoming trainings.

FAQs

Am I guaranteed a position as a mentor if I apply?

Unfortunately, no. There are a limited number of spots available for mentors. In order to ensure the Empower to Educate Mentorship Program and the T.E.A.C.H. Apprenticeship Program are meeting the needs of the early childhood workforce across Minnesota, each mentor cohort will consist of those working in family child care and child care center programs, mentors from each of the Child Care Aware districts, and mentors that align with the Empower to Educate Equity Analysis.

If I am unavailable to participate in the next cohort, will I have an opportunity to participate in future cohorts?

Yes! There will be ongoing opportunities to participate in the Empower to Educate Mentorship Program and the T.E.A.C.H. Apprenticeship Program. If you are interested in participating in either program but cannot participate at the present time, please complete and submit a Child Care Aware of Minnesota Mentor Interest Form to be notified of upcoming opportunities to participate.

I’m beginning a career path in child care and would love to work with a mentor. How do I participate in the program as a mentee?

If you or someone you know is beginning a career path in child care and early childhood education and is interested in working with a mentor, please submit an Empower to Educate Interest Form to be connected to your local E2E Workforce Advisor.

I’m a program director and would like to learn more about mentoring in early childhood programs. Are there any training opportunities or courses available in addition to Mentoring in Early Childhood Programs: Part 1 and Part 2?

Yes. If you or someone you know is a program director interested in learning more about mentorship in early childhood, please check out the free, two-hour online learning module, Mentoring in Early Childhood Programs: An Introduction for Program Directors, for more information.