MISSISSIPPI LEGISLATURE

1999 Regular Session

To: Education

By: Representative Frierson

AN ACT TO AMEND SECTION 37-9-201, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, TO CLARIFY THAT MENTOR TEACHERS MAY BE RETIRED TEACHERS MEETING CERTAIN QUALIFICATIONS; 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 37-9-201, Mississippi Code of 1972, is amended as follows:

37-9-201. As used in Sections 37-9-201 through 37-9-213:

(a) "Beginning teacher" means a teacher who:

(i) Possesses a teaching license issued by the Commission on Teacher and Administrator Education, Certification and Licensure and Development;

(ii) Is employed at least half time, primarily as a classroom teacher, by a school district; and

(iii) Has taught fewer than ninety (90) consecutive days, or one hundred eighty (180) days total, as a licensed teacher in any public school.

(b) "District" means any local school district.

(c) "Formal assistance" means a program provided by a mentor teacher to a beginning teacher that includes, but is not limited to, direct classroom observation and consultation; assistance in instructional planning and preparation; support in implementation and delivery of classroom instruction; and other assistance intended to enhance the professional performance and development of the beginning teacher.

(d) "Mentor teacher" means a teacher who:

(i) Possesses a standard teaching personnel service or administrative license issued by the Commission on Teacher and Administrator Education, Certification and Licensure and Development;

(ii) At the time of selection, is employed * * * under contract primarily as a classroom teacher by a public school district or is retired from a public school district;

(iii) Has successfully taught for three (3) or more years as a licensed teacher in any public school;

(iv) Has been selected and trained as described in Section 37-9-211; and

(v) Has demonstrated mastery of teaching skills and subject matter knowledge.

(e) "Teacher" means a licensed employee of a local school district who has direct responsibility for instruction, coordination of educational programs or supervision of teachers and who is compensated for services from public funds.

SECTION 2. 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 3. This act shall take effect and be in force from and after July 1, 1999.