Superintendent Arntzen Partners with MSU to Create Teacher Mentorship Program

• Brian O'Leary
• November 19 2024

HELENA – Superintendent Arntzen is partnering with Montana State University (MSU) to provide teacher mentors to Montana educators in schools identified as Comprehensive Support and Improvement (CSI) and schools in Rigorous Action as defined in the federal Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA). The goal of the mentorship program is to enhance teacher recruitment and retention, create collaborative networks, and nurture teacher confidence. Schools identified for Comprehensive Support and Improvement meet one or more of the following criteria:

• are in the lowest performing 5% of all Title I schools in the state;
• have a high school graduation rate of less than 67%; and/or
• have consistently underperforming subgroups.

Schools enter Rigorous Action when identified as CSI under ESSA and have not:

• Made adequate progress in exiting the lowest performing 5% of Title I Schools
• Shown growth in ELA (reading) and Math
• Shown improvement in their Comprehensive needs assessment

“As a teacher for 23 years, I understand how important it is for new teachers to have a strong mentor,” said Superintendent Elsie Arntzen. “Creating confident teachers leads to higher student success and greater family engagement. I am thankful for the partnership between my office and MSU and for all the Montana educators who have agreed to be a teacher mentor.”

Teacher mentors will be provided to new teachers, teachers who have changed grades or subject areas, and international teachers working on a J-1 visa. Currently, there are 103 teachers in the process of getting a personal mentor who has taught, or is currently teaching, in the same content area and/or grade level.