Standards for Field Experience
WELCOME
STUDENT EXPECTATIONS
Thank you for participating in the ISD# 196 Mentor
Program. The Mentor Program draws on the
expertise and commitment of professionals to guide
and encourage independence, creativity, and the
development of talent in high school students.
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The Mentor Program is an advanced learning
experience for students who show high potential
and who are ready to explore their hopes, dreams,
and aspirations for the future.
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Your involvement as a mentor is an investment in
the future. Research indicates that the one-to-one
relationship between mentor and student is
mutually beneficial. As a mentor, you will work with
a student who is enthusiastic about a profession.
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Mentoring relationships are intended to:
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Be professional in nature
Help students make the transition from an
academic environment to the world of work
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Offer an opportunity for professional
development, networking, and an exchange
of ideas between experienced professionals
and the next generation of leaders
MENTOR OBJECTIVES
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Establish an environment which will enable
a student to learn at an advanced level
Provide guidance with a project that
extends the student’s knowledge and
experience in the field.
Draw upon personal experience and
professional resources so that the student
gains a realistic view of the career
Offer suggestions and feedback
Encourage your student to explore new
areas
Establish a schedule for you and the student
to meet in person
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Learn all he or she can; prepare questions
and discuss them; grasp principles and
concepts relevant to the field
Develop, in conjunction with the mentor, a
meaningful learning plan (see Blueprint)
with objectives for the mentorship
Complete a project to demonstrate that the
student has met all or a significant number
of the learning plan goals
Prepare a weekly report to the teacher
describing the week’s activities, hours
spent, learning acquired, and the student’s
reactions to the week’s work. (The
teacher/student forwards these weekly
reports to the mentor.)
Assist the mentor and be involved in
professional activities to the greatest extent
the mentor deems legally, ethically, and
realistically possible
Gain an awareness of the nature of a
specific field
Explore the training requirements for the
field and the application of training in the
professional setting
Acquaint the student with approaches to
becoming established as a professional in
the field
Develop a concept of the lifestyle of
professionals in the field
MENTORING IS A VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITY
The mentorship is NOT a paid work experience. It is
an opportunity for a student to learn at an advanced
level and to experience a career field in a
professional manner. Students may be employed by
their mentors, but they may not count paid time as
hours for academic credit in the Mentor Program.
Students will provide their own transportation to the
mentor site. Mentor time begins when the student
arrives.
Standards for Field Experience
SUGGESTED ACTIVITIES
COORDINATOR’S ROLE
Mentors are encouraged to use their expertise and
creativity to plan student activities. The following list
includes activities that previous mentors have used
successfully:
The Mentor Program Coordinator’s role is to serve as
a facilitator for both mentors and students. Prior to
the Field Experience, teachers instruct students in
the Mentor Seminar class to prepare them for the
Field Experience. This includes an extensive study of
the students’ interests, skills, and aptitude for a
chosen career, as well as extensive research into the
nature of the career and subject matter related to
the field.
 Have the student assist with your daily
routine tasks as well as the more exciting
aspects of your job
 Help plan a project which extends the
student’s knowledge and experience in
the field
 When possible, give the student a work
space so that when not with you, he or
she has a designated work station
 Discuss your educational background and
training for this field, as well as your
experience with the transition from
school to work
 Explain the demands of the field and the
ways in which academics contribute to
the field
 When available, provide professional
readings
 When available, allow visits within your
department, firm, or other sites and
inform the student about programs that
professionals in your field attend
 Get to know your student
EVALUATION
As the experience draws to a close, you will be asked
to complete an evaluation of your student’s progress
and of the program. A form will be provided.
The Mentor Program staff wants students to
maintain strong work habits, communicate
effectively with mentors, do quality work on their
project, and fulfill their Blueprint agreement. You
are NOT responsible for grading students, although
you may provide input for the grade if you wish.
Once a student has completed Mentor Seminar and
has demonstrated his/her capability for a Field
Experience, the coordinator begins the search for a
prospective mentor. Once the mentor is secured,
the teacher serves as the link between the student
and the mentor. Teachers encourage clear, ongoing
communication between all participants. In
addition, the teacher meets once a week with the
students with the students in a classroom setting.
The coordinator works closely with the students to
complete in-class assignments and encourages them
to develop the traits required for growth in a
professional career.
The teacher maintains contact with mentors by
sending the student’s weekly written reports and/or
making periodic telephone calls. Should any
questions or issues arise as the mentorship
progresses, please do not hesitate to contact your
student’s Mentor Program Coordinator.
SPECIAL ATTENTION
If a mentor wishes to involve a student in a special
project requiring mornings or part of a school day,
call the Mentor Program Coordinator well in advance
to arrange to have the student excused from his or
her regular classes. Arrangements are possible
barring major exams and other school commitments
and are subject to approval by the high school. The
teacher and student will make these arrangements.