The Preparation of Mentor Teachers Matters

Effective mentor teachers are essential to preparing and retaining the next generation of educators. The Mentor Teacher Professional Learning (MTPL) program from the NCTR helps districts, educator preparation programs, and state education agencies strengthen mentor teachers’ abilities to build trusting relationships, facilitate meaningful on-the-job learning, and provide constructive coaching and feedback to novice educators.

Grounded in nearly 20 years of research and experience from the teacher residency field, the program equips mentor teachers with the skills and confidence needed to support teacher candidates and early-career educators—ultimately improving outcomes for P-12 students.

What is the Mentor Teacher Professional Learning Program?

NCTR’s MTPL program is a customized training and professional learning initiative to develop a mentor teacher’s ability to model, co-teach, co-plan, and provide actionable feedback to aspiring educators. Investing in mentor teachers strengthens the education system from teacher preparation and educator development to student learning.

Through collaborative learning experiences, mentor teachers learn how to:

• Build strong, trusting relationships with teacher candidates and novice teachers
• Facilitate effective on-the-job learning experiences
• Deliver actionable coaching and constructive feedback
• Reflect on instructional practice and educator growth
• Support teacher effectiveness 

Mentor teachers don’t just discuss coaching strategies—they actively practice, reflect, and build skills they can immediately apply in classrooms and schools.

Whether you are launching a teacher residency program, strengthening registered apprenticeship pathways, or improving induction and mentoring systems, the Mentor Teacher Professional Learning program provides practical, research-informed support tailored to your goals.