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Frequently Asked Questions

What can I expect if I become a Mentor?
What can I expect if I request a Mentor?
Who Qualifies to be a Mentor?
What is a Mentor?
Why become a Mentor?

What can I expect if I become a Mentor?

Participation as a mentor in "The E-Mentorship Vision Network" will consist of allocating approximately 1-2 hours of your time per week for a nine month period in which you will develop a professional relationship with the individual you are mentoring by communicating via, the NERCVE E-Mentorship web site, e-mail, telephone, or in person.

You will be matched with an individual who is seeking mentorship based on the number of years you have spent in the profession, professional strengths, and your self described specialty area within the field. One of the program managers will communicate with all participants on a regular basis to ensure that mentors have the tools they need to support the pilot program's mission to support the individuals they are mentoring in the program and for their own professional development support.

We will hold an introductory "kick-off" event to begin the program and aim to have two events for participants throughout the run of the program that will allow time for professional development, feedback, networking, socialization, and of course, fun.

The goal of the E-Mentorship Vision Network is to have both mentors and those being mentored to walk away from the experience with an increased knowledge of educating individuals with visual impairments, professional development opportunity, and an increased sense of community, collaboration, and communication amongst educators of the visually impaired so that students with visual impairments receive a high quality education from informed, confident, collaborative, and connected professionals.

What can I expect if I request a Mentor?

Participation as an individual receiveing mentorship as part of "The E-Mentorship Vision Network" will involve allocating approximately 1-2 hours of your time per week for a nine month period in which you will develop a professional relationship with your mentor by communicating via, the NERCVE E-Mentorship web site, e-mail, telephone, or in person.

You will be matched with an mentor who is seeking based on said mentors area of expertise based on your specific self identified professional develpment and learning goals. One of the program managers will communicate with all participants on a regular basis to support the pilot program's mission to support the individuals they are mentoring in the program and for their own professional development support.

Who Qualifies to be a Mentor?

For purposes of "The E-Mentorship Vision Network" Mentorship Qualifications vary. We will be using several mentorship resources. Qualifications to mentor 1st & 2nd year educators include:

4 years of experience as an educator of individuals with visual impairments and Masters Degree.
7-10 years experience as an educator of individuals with visual impairments and an undergraduate degree.
Commitment to serve as a mentor for one year
Solid communication skills
Commitment to the field of visual impairments
ACVREP certified (O&M instructors)

"The E-Mentorship Vision Network" strongly encourages cross-mentoring and 1st and 2nd year graduates of the UMass Boston graduate programs currently teaching are encouraged to participate in mentoring current graduate students in the UMass M.Ed. programs as they prepare to enter the field.

All mentors are encouraged to have a mentor themselves in "The E-Mentorship Vision Network," although this is not a requirement.

To sum up "The E-Mentorship Vision Network" Mentor Qualifications, our staff would like to borrow the below passage from the Texas School for the Blind Mentorship guidelines:

"Mentors are not superhuman. They are not expected to be experts in all areas. But they should be good teachers. Mentoring is a learning, as well as a teaching process"

What is a Mentor?

A mentor, in terms of The E-mentorship Vision Network, is an experienced professional in the field of educating students with visual impairments who is dedicated to the field, who may have a particular strength in a specialized area of the field, who wants to share their knowledge and expertise with graduate students, beginning teachers, and teachers seeking to expand their knowledge and gain professional development in educating students with visual impairments.

The Texas School for the Blind's renowned Outreach Program provides some excellent insight in regard to the value of mentorship for the induction of new teachers; "Mentoring is a practical skill oriented, helping relationship between experienced and inexperienced practitioners. It includes activities which are both planned and spontaneous. This is a separate process from university supervision, internship, or practicum."

While we strongly agree that beginning teachers have a great need for mentorship we also feel that mentorship is incredibly valuable in the professional growth process throughout one's career, from the graduate school level, to those with many years of experience which is why we are inviting individuals in all phases of their career to participate in receiving mentorship through our program.

Mentors participating in The E-Mentorship Vision Network pilot project will be fostering community, collaboration, and communication amongst educators of the visually impaired so that students with visual impairments receive a high quality education from informed, confident, and connected professionals.

Why become a Mentor?

Mentorship offers professionals in the low incidence disability area of visual impairments a unique opportunity to gain both professional development experience and develop a personal and professional network within the field. Mentorship also offers the chance to pass on knowledge to other educators in the field, and in turn a vehicle for personal growth and fulfillment. Mentoring fellow educators in our field will promote a more dynamic, diversified, and knowledgeable educator base for students with visual impairments. Mentors will be provided with a stipend for their participation in the pilot project.