Welcome to the Supporting Mentor Teachers Project (SMTP) where we invite you on a journey for the enhancement of your professional learning. There are four steps along the way, and at each step, you will choose whether or not to participate.
Each non-credit course is designed to enhance your skills as a mentor teacher. There are six to eight modules in each course, comprised of asynchronous online learning activities. You will receive access to the entire course, but you may choose to participate in one, a few, or all of the modules. Only those who finish all of the modules will receive a badge of completion.
Courses include:- Foundations of Mentoring
- Essentials of Effective Mentoring
- Advancing the Practice of Mentoring
When you complete at least one of the non-credit courses, you can move on to the Graduate Certificate in Educational Studies - Mentoring and Leadership. This graduate certificate will advance your self-efficacy, knowledge, and skills related to mentoring. The courses are designed to blend theory with practice and enable you to become more skilled in supporting the development of the pre-service teachers you mentor.
The Master of Education in Educational Studies (MES) - General Ladder is designed for teachers, educational administrators, and educational leaders who want to enhance their knowledge and practice in the areas of leadership and school improvement. When you complete the GCES, you will receive advanced standing for those four courses and complete the MEd with six more courses: four core courses and two electives.
As part of the Supporting Mentor Teachers Project, we are pleased to provide U of A Mentor Teachers and School Coordinators with a coupon for tuition credit which can be applied to most graduate-level courses in the Faculty of Education at the University of Alberta.
One coupon for mentoring:
- One AFX student
- Two IFX students
- Two EDFX 495 students.
One coupon for school coordinators for each year in that role (starting in the 2023-24 school year).
The coupon will cover the equivalent of one credit of tuition. Graduate-level courses are generally 3 credits. As an example, if tuition for a 3-credit course is $1500.00, the coupon is worth $500.00.
Restrictions
- Only University of Alberta mentor teachers qualify for coupons.
- Only graduate-level courses in the Faculty of Education at the University of Alberta qualify for the waiver. Note: THES courses are not eligible.
- Coupons are non-transferable and have no cash value.
- Only one coupon can be used per course.
- Coupons are valid for two years from the term in which they are earned (example: mentorship takes place in Fall 2025; coupon valid until Fall 2027).
- Only mentor teacher assignments from Fall 2022 and onward are eligible.
Claim Deadlines
Annual deadlines for claiming tuition waivers:
- Winter Term (January - April) - January 15
- Spring Term (May - June) - May 1
- Summer Term (July - August) - July 1
- Fall Term (September - December) - September 15
Note: the fee payment deadline is not the same as the deadline for claiming the waiver, as we need time to process the coupon requests. Tuition reductions will be applied prior to the fee payment deadline for the term to which you apply the coupon.
Questions? Contact edmentor@ualberta.ca.
Do you have questions about the Supporting Mentor Teachers Project (SMTP)? Perhaps they are answered here. If not, contact us at edmentor@ualberta.ca - we're happy to help.
I have not been a mentor teacher. Is this program right for me?
The Mentoring and Leadership GCES stream is tailored for mentor teachers. Participants are required to have completed at least one mentorship before taking part in the program. The courses in this certificate consist mainly of class discussions based on the mentoring experiences of participants. Other GCES streams that may be of interest to you can be found here.
How can I become a mentor teacher?
Contact your school coordinator if you wish to work with a pre-service teacher.
It has been several years since I mentored a pre-service teacher. Can I get access to the non-credit courses and earn tuition waiver coupons?
Course access is only available to teachers who have completed mentoring assignments since Fall 2020. Tuition waiver coupons are only available to teachers who have completed mentoring assignments since Fall 2022.