The mentor of novice teachers in educational contexts of special complexity

During three academic years, an accompaniment and mentoring project has been developed for new teachers in educational centers with difficult performance in Poligono Sur (Seville), which is one of the poorest areas of the country. It is enclosed in the Research, Innovation and Materials Projects of the Education Council of the Junta de Andalucia. This project contemplates two fundamental figures: mentors and mentees. Herein it proposes to define representative socio-educational variables of the mentor, desirable competency profile and positive aspects of the program. The sample size is 57 mentors in 6 primary and secondary schools. For the collection of information, 2 surveys are used, with qualitative and quantitative items. The results indicate as key characteristics of the mentor in these contexts: teaching experience, knowledge of the schools and environment, ability to show empathy/assertiveness and problem solving and immediate decision making. The main conclusion is to find the desirable profile of the mentor for each school.