ARTICLE XXIV MENTOR PROGRAM NATIONAL BOARD FOR PROFESSIONAL TEACHING STANDARDS CERTIFICATION

Foster School District

A Mentor

1. The Mentoring Program of the Foster Public School is designed to provide support to participating teachers to enable said teacher to change their practices to higher levels of expertise to result in higher levels of achievement by the students assigned to the teacher.

2. Mentors shall demonstrate the ability to work with adults, commit to perform and participate in all activities in the designated mentoring program, possess a minimum of seven (7) years of successful teaching experience, be knowledgeable of beginning teaching standards and various stages of teacher expertise leading to national certification, having a minimum of five (5) years successful teaching experience in the district, and participate in a mentor training program.

3. The assignment of Mentors shall be at the discretion of the Superintendent.

4. National Board Certified teachers who receive the contractual annual stipend shall not be eligible for the Mentoring Stipend.

5. Mentors shall be paid a stipend of:

2018-2021 -- $1,061.00

B. National Board for Professional Teaching Standards Certification

1.  The Foster School  District  will pay 50% of the application fee less financial  aid from any other sources for up to two teachers  per year to undertake  the National  Board Certification Process. Teachers  who undertake  this process and receive funding from the Foster School  District will be expected  to work the following  school  year in the district.   Failure to do so will require the teacher to reimburse the District  for any funds expended.  If a teacher  withdraws  from the process or discontinues his/her efforts  to complete the National  Board Certification Process  will be required  to return  to the District any and all application fees the District  has paid on his/her behalf.

2.   Teachers who complete  the National  Board Certification process, but who do not achieve the certification,  shall be responsible  for any additional  fees in future years in order to continue with the certification  process.

3.   The Foster School  District  will assist and support the efforts of National Board Certification candidates  by providing  up to five professional  development leave days for use exclusively  related to National Board Certification. The District shall also provide for the use of loaned materials, such as video cameras, editing equipment,  computers  and any other equipment  that may be useful in portfolio preparation.

4.   National Board Certified  teachers will be expected  to continue  their work with students in the classroom. They will also be expected  to take on additional  roles and activities which may include, but not be limited to, developing curriculum, mentoring,  planning and providing professional development,  and facilitating school  improvement.

5.   The National Board Certified Stipend shall also be made available to members of the FfA, who are ineligible for National Board  for Professional Teaching Standards  (NBPTS) certification,  but hold a National  Certification  that is substantially equivalent  to the NBPTS certificate, as determined by the Superintendent. Any member of the professional  staff who receives National Board Certification shall receive a yearly stipend each year of this agreement, as provided in Appendix A as long as he/she retains his/her National Board Certification and continues  to play an active role in the improvement  of education  provided for the students of the Foster School  District.

6.    Any teacher receiving the National Board Certification  stipend shall at the conclusion of each school year deliver a presentation to the School Committee.