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Welcome to the Iowa Arts Educators Mentor Program - Model of Excellence

The purpose of this program is to continue to improve the quality of arts education in Iowa through mentoring assistance of first-year arts teachers. The program was first piloted in the 2005 -2006 school year.

The Iowa Arts Educators Mentor Program is designed to enhance, not supplant the established local/district/AEA/State mentoring programs.  The mentoring program is discipline-specific. The information that is made available to the first-year teacher through this program ranges from survival to mastery skills needed to be successful in the arts classroom.  The information is tailored specifically to the individual teacher and teaching situation.  This information can also be accessed immediately (through emails/phone calls) or after observation and reflection (mentor visits).  It also provides for networking with other first-year and veteran teachers throughout the state.

Due to the statewide scope of this project, the Iowa Alliance for Arts Education continues to be uniquely positioned to manage this project.  All of the participating arts organizations are members of the IAAE "umbrella." The leadership of the six arts organizations (Arts Educators of Iowa, Iowa Bandmasters Association, Iowa Communications Association, Iowa Choral Directors Association, Iowa Music Educators Association, and Iowa String Teachers Association), as well as Music Mentors of Iowa, participates in IAAE programs and have representatives on the IAAE Advisory Board. 

IAAE, collaborating with the Iowa Department of Education, has been a leader in the development of statewide arts programs in the areas of assessment, standards and benchmarks, integration, advocacy, and leadership development.
The mentoring project is a natural outgrowth of the IAAE mission statement, which is to "increase the support of policies, practices, and partnerships that ensure quality arts education for all Iowans."

Goals of the mentoring project are:

• To retain promising beginning arts teachers.
• To promote the personal and professional well-being of beginning arts teachers.
• To improve arts teaching performance by supporting continuous professional growth for both mentor and mentee.

If you have additional questions please contact:

Leon Kuehner or Liz Fritz

IAAE Mentor Co-Chairs

Please submit the following information to be enrolled in the mentor program and receive information about mentor contacts, scholarships (up to $250) for professional organization membership and attendance at conferences, and specific opportunities for first year arts teachers.

About You

Job Title

Classroom Music Teacher
Instrumental Music
Vocal Music
Visual Art Teacher
Speech/Drama Teacher
Other, please specify:

Grade level(s) you teach:

School name


Location of school (city)

About Mentoring Opportunities

Would you like to be connected with an active mentor? This is someone who is an active teacher and can serve as a life-line for everyday questions and needs.

Yes
Not at this time, but please contact me later

Other, please specify:

Iowa Music Educators Association
Iowa Bandmasters Association
Iowa Choral Directors Association
Art Educators of Iowa
Iowa Communications Association
Iowa String Teachers Association

Yes
No

I am interested in attending the Fall Symposium. This is an event with specific topics of interest for first year teachers held on Saturday October 31st at Iowa State University in Ames.

Yes
No

I am interested in participating in the observation mentor program. This allows retired or active teachers to visit with you at your school (up to 4 visits). Each visit is tailored specifically to the needs of the first year teacher.

Yes, I am interested, please sign me up.
Not at this time, but please contact me later.