Mentor Resources
MENTORS in CS: Matching Experienced and Novice Teachers for Ongoing Rigorous Support in Computer Science
We are so excited to have you join our project to provide ongoing, rigorous 1:1 support to novice high school CS teachers during the 2024-25 school year. As mentors, you will help teacher mentees to self-reflect, set professional learning goals, plan for and reflect on lessons, address challenges, build knowledge and skills, and monitor progress towards goals.
This page is just for mentors and has all of the resources you will need for the project. We will continue to update the page throughout the year.
Responsibilities
- Virtually meet with mentee twice per month (about one hour each, at a consistent and mutually agreeable time) from September to June
- Participate in and monthly community of practice meetings with other mentors (Tuesdays from 6:00 to 7:30pm CT)
- Participate in research activities, including surveys, focus groups, and interviews (many will be completed during mentoring or community of practice meetings)
Total time commitment is ~ 4 hours per month during the 2024-25 school year.
Benefits
- $2,000 stipend (half paid in January and July)
- Registration + travel expenses to the 2024 CSTA Annual Conference
- Mentor training and materials / structures
- Participation in a community of practice
- Continued professional growth
- Satisfaction in supporting newer CS teachers who want and need your help
Toolkits
Find the link to your personalized mentoring toolkit below. Note: the files are only accessible to the specific mentor and mentee, plus CSTA staff.
Community of Practice Resources
Goals
- Identify recent successes and challenges with mentoring.
- Analyze real-world classroom scenarios through an equity lens to identify barriers to participation and brainstorm responsive mentoring strategies.
- Reflect on personal experiences with giving and receiving feedback, and collaboratively identify key takeaways and strategies for offering growth-oriented feedback in your role as a mentor.
Agenda
- Welcome & Overview (5 mins)
- Reflection & Sharing Promising Practices (25 mins)
- Teacher Scenarios (25 mins)
- Book Club: Enabling Growth with Feedback (30 mins)
- Close-out (5 mins)
Resources
Goals
- Identify recent successes and challenges with mentoring.
- Engage in thoughtful discussion around growth and identify actionable takeaways that enable growth in both mentors and mentees.
- Review and identify resources/ideas related to example goals aligned to Standard 2. Equity and Inclusion. Discuss how to support mentees in setting and meeting effective goals.
Agenda
- Welcome & Overview (5 mins)
- Reflection & Sharing Promising Practices (25 mins)
- Book Club: Enabling Growth (30 mins)
- Setting Goals Aligned to Standard 2. Equity and Inclusion (25 mins)
- Close-out (5 mins)
Resources
Goals
- Discuss how to support mentees’ sustainability as CS teachers.
- Discuss how to mitigate biases in mentoring and teaching (while discussing reflections from Chapter 4 of Bridging Differences for Better Mentoring).
- Check in as a community, and provide feedback on how to better support your growth as mentors.
- Document learnings and growth from the first mentoring cycle in the mentoring toolkit.
Agenda
- Welcome & Overview (5 mins)
- Reflection & Sharing Promising Practices (20 mins)
- Book Club: Bias and Privilege in Mentoring (30 mins)
- Community Check-in (20 mins)
- Cycle 1 Reflections (10 mins
- Close-out (5 mins)
Resources
Goals
- Build community across the cohort of mentees and mentors while discussing a classroom equity issue.
- Set a professional goal aligned to Standard 4. Instructional Design (lesson planning) that addresses an equity issue in the CS classroom.
- Explore needs for the CSTA PD Passport Project.
Agenda
- Welcome & Overview (5 mins)
- Community & Equity Discussion (30 mins, breakouts)
- Share-out (7 mins)
- Cycle 2 Example Goals (5 mins)
- Mentoring Partner Meetings (20 mins, breakouts)
- Close-out (3 mins)
- PD Passport Project (20 mins)
Goals
- Reflect on lessons learned from our guest speaker, Dr. Lisa Fain.
- Imagine and structure ways that lessons learned can be apply in our spheres of influence.
Agenda
- Welcome & Overview (5 mins)
- Guest Speaker: Dr. Lisa Fain (55 mins)
- Reflecting & Applying Our Learning (20 mins)
- Close-out (5 mins)
Resources
Goals
- Discuss how to infuse equity into every mentoring conversation and leverage mentoring structures/elements to create more meaningful impact.
- Reflect on how to use strengths and explore opportunities for growth in regards to bridging differences in the mentoring partnership.
- Plan how to support mentees in meeting goals aligned to Standard 5. Classroom Practice.
Agenda
- Welcome & Overview (5 mins)
- Reflection & Sharing Promising Practices (20 mins)
- Bridging Difference for Better Mentoring (30 mins)
- Supporting Mentees in Meeting Cycle 1 Goals (30 mins)
- Close-out (5 mins)
Resources
- Slide Deck
- No Recording Available
Goals
- Share best practices for managing the work across multiple roles and responsibilities.
- Select, draft, or refine a relevant goal aligned to aligned to CS Teacher Standard 5. Classroom Practice for your mentee to achieve before winter break.
- Discuss responses to three questions from the Establishing Agreements chapter of Fain & Zachary’s Bridging Differences for Better Mentoring.
Agenda
- Welcome & Overview (5 mins)
- Reflection & Sharing Promising Practices (20 mins)
- Setting Classroom Practice Growth Goals (30 mins)
- Book Club (30 mins)
- Close-out (5 mins)
Resources
Goals
- Clarify the goals, responsibilities, and structure of the program.
- Explain the research aspect of the project, and provide consent.
- Explain how to complete a self-reflection aligned to three of the CSTA Standards for CS Teachers.
- Meet your mentoring partner. Begin to get to know one another, and discuss expectations and boundaries for mentoring. Start developing a partnership agreement.
- Build community across the cohort of mentees and mentors.
Agenda
- Welcome & Overview (5 mins)
- Community Building (15 mins, breakouts)
- Project + Research Overview (10 mins)
- Meet Your Mentoring Partner (15 mins, breakouts)
- Mentoring Structures (10 mins)
- Partnership Agreement (15 mins, breakouts)
- How to Complete Self-Reflection (5 mins)
- Close-out (10 mins)
Resources
Goals
- Learn the history, responsibilities, structures, and research of the project
- Build community among mentors and other project personnel
- Develop effective mentoring practices, aligned to a four-phase mentoring cycle
- Discuss equity and its overall importance to the project
Agenda
- History, Structure, and Responsibilities
- Research
- Community Building #1
- What Makes an Effective Mentor?
- Mentoring Phase Exploration #1
- Community Building #2
- Equity Conversations
- Mentoring Phase Exploration #2
- What’s Next?
- Optimistic Closure
- Group Photo
Below are the community of practice resources from the 2023-24 year of the MENTORS in CS program, with implementation focused in Wisconsin.
Goals
- Reflect on overall mentoring experience and project structures.
- Create “Teacher Moments” scenarios and offer other insight that can be used to train new mentors this summer.
- Celebrate growth, learning, and completion of another project year as mentors.
Agenda
- Welcome (5 mins)
- Reflection on Professional Impact (25 mins, breakouts)
- Learning from Your Experience (45 mins, 3 rounds of breakouts)
- Highlights (10 mins)
- Close-out (5 mins)
Resources
Goals
- Build community with other amazing CS teachers across the state.
- Reflect on, and celebrate, growth and successes from the year.
- Share information about closing out the program.
Agenda
- Welcome (5 mins)
- Community Building (20 mins, breakouts)
- Complete End-of-Year Reflection (35 mins, breakouts)
- Whole-Group Celebration (15 mins)
- Close-out (10 mins)
Resources
- Slide Deck
- Recording
- Post-surveys (due 5/31)
Goals
- Identify recent successes, challenges, and promising practices with mentoring.
- Analyze and troubleshoot specific challenges faced in mentoring.
- Reflect on the ethos of one’s classroom and explore areas of strength and improvement.
Agenda
- Welcome (5 mins)
- Reflection & Sharing Promising Practices (20 mins)
- Consultancy: Troubleshooting Challenges (25 mins)
- Book Club: Culturally Responsive Teaching and the Brain (30 mins)
- Close-out (10 mins)
Goals
- Identify recent successes and challenges with mentoring.
- Discuss ways in which our classes are set up so that students are actively able to process information and build intellective capacity.
- Review and identify resources/ideas related to example goals aligned to Standard 2. Equity and Inclusion. Discuss how to support mentees in setting and meeting effective goals.
Agenda
- Welcome (5 mins)
- Reflection & Sharing Promising Practices (25 mins)
- Book Club: Culturally Responsive Teaching and the Brain (30 mins)
- Setting Goals Aligned to Standard 2. Equity and Inclusion (25 mins)
- Close-out (5 mins)
Goals
- Discuss how to support mentees’ sustainability as CS teachers.
- Reflect on our own identity makers and discuss how they show up in our daily practice.
Agenda
- Welcome (5 mins)
- Community Building (20 mins)
- Identity: Who We Are and How We Show Up (50 mins)
- Close-out (5 mins)
Goals
- Build community across the cohort of mentees and mentors.
- Examine equity issues that are present across our CS classrooms.
- Set a professional goal aligned to Standard 4. Instructional Design (lesson planning) that addresses an equity issue in the CS classroom.
Agenda
- Welcome (5 mins)
- Community Building (20 mins – breakouts)
- Share-out (5 mins)
- Equity Issues Discussion (25 mins – breakouts)
- Cycle 2 Example Goals (5 mins)
- Mentoring Partner Meetings (25 mins – breakouts)
- Close-out (5 mins)
Goals
- Discuss professional growth over the first half of the school year and what conversations to prioritize with mentees before winter break.
- Reflect on fixed and growth mindsets and how the messaging of both exist within your classroom and conversations with your mentee.
- Reflect on the first mentoring cycle, and offer best practices to mentors based on personal experience.
Agenda
- Welcome (5 mins)
- Reflection & Connection (25 mins)
- CRT & The Brain: Chapter 7 (30 mins)
- Retrospectives & Best Practices (25 mins)
- Close-out (5 mins)
Resources
- Slide Deck
- Recording
- Feedback Survey
Goals
- Discuss how to infuse equity into every mentoring conversation.
- Reflect on how to strengthen the teacher to student learning partnership through instruction, structure, and effective feedback (chapter 6 of Culturally Responsive Teaching and the Brain).
- Plan how to support mentees in meeting cycle 1 goals aligned to Standard 5. Classroom Practice.
Agenda
- Welcome (5 mins)
- Reflection & Promising Practices (20 mins)
- CRT & The Brain: Chapter 6 (30 mins)
- Supporting Mentees in Meeting Cycle 1 Goals (30 mins)
- Close-out (5 mins)
Resources
Goals
- Share best practices for managing the work across multiple roles and responsibilities.
- Select, draft, or refine a relevant goal aligned to aligned to CS Teacher Standard 5. Classroom Practice for your mentee to achieve before winter break.
- Reflect on takeaways from chapters 1-5 of Hammond’s Culturally Responsive Teaching and the Brain.
Agenda
- Welcome (5 mins)
- Reflection & Promising Practices (20 mins)
- Setting Classroom Practice Growth Goals (30 mins)
- Revisiting CRT & The Brain: Chapters 1-5 (30 mins)
- Close-out (5 mins)
Resources
- Slide Deck
- Recording
- St 5. Classroom Practice Example Goals
- Feedback Survey
Goals
- Clarify the goals, responsibilities, and structure of the program.
- Explain the research aspect of the project, and provide consent.
- Explain how to complete a self-reflection aligned to three of the CSTA Standards for CS Teachers.
- Meet your mentoring partner. Begin to get to know one another, and discuss expectations and boundaries for mentoring. Start developing a partnership agreement.
- Build community across the cohort of mentees and mentors.
Agenda
- Welcome & Overview (5 mins)
- Community Building (15 mins)
- Project + Research Overview (10 mins)
- Meet Your Mentoring Partner (15 mins)
- Mentoring Structures (10 mins)
- Partnership Agreement (15 mins)
- How to Complete Self-Reflection (5 mins)
- Close-out (10 mins)
Resources
Goals
- Review refined mentoring toolkit
- Preview responsibilities and timeline for the year
- Collect feedback on content to cover during CoP meetings
- Discuss how every conversation can be a conversation about equity
- Discuss how to build relationships with mentoring partners
Agenda
- Welcome & Overview (5 mins)
- Reflections & Promising Practices (25 mins)
- Program Overview & Responsibilities (10 mins)
- Integrating Equity in All Conversations (30 mins)
- Refined Mentoring Toolkit (5 mins)
- Planning for the Year (10 mins)
- Close-out (5 mins)
Resources
- Slide Deck
- Recording
- Article: “You can coach for equity anywhere, with anyone”
- Podcast (episode): Bright Morning
- Book: Coaching for Equity
- Book club resources from DPI
- Form: Update address or bio
- Form: Request Culturally Responsive Teaching and the Brain book
- Feedback Survey
We will read and discuss Zaretta Hammond’s Culturally Responsive Teaching and The Brain together throughout the year.
- Nov – Chapter 6 (Establishing Alliance in the Learning Partnership)
- Dec – Chapter 7 (Shifting Academic Mindset in the Learning Partnership)
- Feb – Chapter 8 (Information Processing to Build Intellective Capacity)
- Mar – Chapter 9 (Creating a Culturally Responsive Community for Learning)
* Jan is skipped due to C.O.P meeting with mentees
Find the link to your personalized mentoring toolkit below. Note: the files are only accessible to the specific mentor and mentee, plus CSTA staff.
Participant Directory
Project Team
MENTORS in CS is a National Science Foundation-supported research/practice partnership among CSTA, WestEd, three communities: the CSTA Wisconsin Dairyland chapter, the CSTA New Jersey chapter, and CSTA’s Black Affinity Group.
Bryan Twarek
PI, Head of Research & Innovation
Portia Morrell
Project Manager
Dr. Aleata Hubbard Cheuoua
Co-PI, Senior Research Associate
Dr. Jennifer Tsan
Research Associate
Amy Fetherston
Linnea Logan
Tonya Davis
Portia Morrell
Kathy Effner
Kevin Jala
Contact: mentors@csteachers.org
This material is based upon work supported by the National Science Foundation (NSF) under Grants No. 2031314 and 2318232. Any opinions, findings, and conclusions or recommendations expressed in this material are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of the NSF.