MISSISSIPPI LEGISLATURE

1999 Regular Session

To: Education

By: Representative Frierson

AN ACT TO AMEND SECTION 37-9-211, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, TO AUTHORIZE LOCAL SCHOOL DISTRICTS TO COMPENSATE MENTOR TEACHERS FOR ADDITIONAL DUTIES PERFORMED UNDER THE BEGINNING TEACHER SUPPORT PROGRAM, TO GRANT ADDITIONAL RELEASE TIME FOR SUCH MENTOR TEACHERS AND TO EMPLOY SUBSTITUTE TEACHERS FOR ASSUMING THE REGULAR TEACHING DUTIES OF MENTOR TEACHERS; AND FOR RELATED PURPOSES.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI:

SECTION 1. Section 37-9-211, Mississippi Code of 1972, is amended as follows:

37-9-211. (1) The selection, nature and extent of duties of mentor teachers shall be determined by the school district. The following guidelines shall apply:

(a) No teacher shall be designated as a mentor teacher unless willing to perform in that role;

(b) No mentor teacher shall participate in the evaluation of beginning teachers;

(c) Each mentor teacher shall complete successfully a training workshop provided or approved by the Mississippi Teacher Center prior to participating in the beginning teacher support program; and

(d) If a mentor teacher receives additional release time to support a beginning teacher, it is expected that the total workload of other teachers regularly employed by the school district should not increase in any substantial manner.

(2) A district may: (a) compensate mentor teachers from any available funds for additional duties to support a beginning teacher which are performed after regular school hours; (b) grant additional release time to mentor teachers for additional duties to support a beginning teacher which are performed after regular school hours; and (c) employ and compensate substitute teachers from any available funds for assuming the regular teaching duties of mentor teachers who are participating in the beginning teacher program.

SECTION 2. This act shall take effect and be in force from and after July 1, 1999.