MUSE Mentoring Program

The Mentoring Unique Special Educators (M.U.S.E.) program presents a simple, yet powerful solution to a serious problem - namely, the pre service education and retention of uncertified special education teachers with little or no training. The MUSE program supports these untrained and uncertified special education teachers to effectively educate students with mild, moderate, and severe disabilities through a combination of pre service coursework and intensive on-the-job mentoring support. The targeted personnel for this training program are uncertified special educators, employed by the Hawai`i Department of Education as full-time teachers and concurrently enrolled in a pre service special education program at University of Hawai'i at Manoa.
 
The MUSE program began in 2003 with a partnership between the University of Hawai'i at Manoa, the Hawai'i State Department of Education and the New Teacher Center at the University of California, Santa Cruz.

To positively impact student achievement, we envision a collaborative program between University of Hawaii at Manoa special education mentors, teaching faculty, and the Hawaii Department of Education that facilitates the development and retention of accomplished, empowered, and passionate special education teachers.

The primary purpose of the MUSE program is to enhance the quality and retention of teachers in Hawai'i. Hawai`i ranks 3rd in the largest percentage of uncertified special education teachers in the nation (Center On Personnel Studies in Special Education, 2004). In February 2007, a survey was mailed out to all former and current participants of the MUSE program. Based upon the results, 92% remain in special education teaching positions. Respondents acknowledged mentors with special education teaching experiences and background as being profound and beneficial to their practices.

Mentors will:

• Conduct weekly on site contact during and after school hours
• Observe and coach the teacher
• Offer emotional support
• Assist with short and long term planning
• Design classroom management strategies
• Teach demonstration lessons
• Provide curriculum resources
• Facilitate collaboration with co teachers and communication with the principal

The ratio of mentor to teacher is 1:12-15

Sherri Sai
(808) 956-0968
ssai@hawaii.edu