Tanya Clayton Feb 14, 2021The University of Alaska Fairbanks has received a five-year, $8 million grant from
the U.S. Department of Education to increase the reach and effectiveness of mentor-based
teaching throughout Alaska.
The grant will expand the Alaska Statewide Mentor Project, which provides support
for early-career educators.
The ASMP, which began in 2003, is one of four projects in UAF’s K-12 Outreach program.
The research-based ASMP aims to develop teachers who are responsive to the diverse
cultural backgrounds of all students.
This is achieved principally through educator mentoring. By providing professional
mentoring to first- and second-year teachers, the program significantly increases
the number of teachers who remain in the profession.
The mentoring project, led by program manager Sue McIntosh, has increased the percentage
of teachers who continue in their profession past five years to over 90%. In contrast,
about 50% of nonmentored teachers leave the profession within the first five years.
The ASMP and another K-12 Outreach project, Educators Rising, have proven track records
of success.
Glenda Findlay, K-12 Outreach director, wants to see that continue.
The Department of Education award will fund research into the instructional success
and cost effectiveness of both in-person and virtual instruction delivery methods.
The project is expected to benefit more than 7,500 students throughout Alaska.
Mentor Hal Neace reacts with excitement to a polar bear feeding on a whale carcass
in Utqiagvik. Photo courtesy Hal Neace
Tanya Clayton is a public information officer at UAF’s College of Natural Science
and Mathematics.
She can be reached at 474-7541 or tfclayton@alaska.edu.
