CATIP Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
How do I apply to participate in the program?
- Mentors: Apply Here
- Credential Candidates: Apply Here
- School Districts: Gather Information Here
Who is considered a Credential Candidate?
- A Credential Candidate is considered anyone who will be entering their first or second year of teaching as teacher of record on a preliminary credential.
Who is considered a Mentor?
- A Mentor is any individual who has been teaching (1.0 FTE/year) as a qualified agriculture teacher in, or beyond, their 5th year as teacher of record.
- Mentors are trained via the curriculum outlined by the CATIP Mentor training program.
What do I do if my mentor is not providing me the guidance I need?
- As a Credential Candidate, if your mentor is not providing the services that they have been trained to provide for you, you have the right, and obligation, to inform program staff, coordinators, and/or directors. All information provided will remain anonymous, and CATIP will work to pair you with another mentor.
What happens if a Credential Candidate is leaving agriculture education?
- If a Credential Candidate leaves the profession, for whatever reason, during their time enrolled in the CATIP, proper documentation and records will be prepared to send with that candidate to a new induction program (in the event they are gainfully employed in the teaching profession within another field), or records will be kept on file for a minimum of 3 years.
What type of Mentor training is available?
- Mentor training is required of all mentors who are approved for work in this program (10 hours per year), regardless of years spent as a mentor for another program. Each case will be assessed appropriately by program facilitators, and appropriate assignments will be made on a merit basis.
How is the California Agricultural Teachers’ Induction Program evaluated?
CATIP is a consortium partner of the Yolo-Solano Center for Teacher Credentialing operated by Davis Joint Unified School District. Thus, it is subject to the audit procedures, purview, and evaluation by standards set forth by the parent program and the CTC. Entities that participate in independent evaluations are as follows, listed in order of hierarchy:
- CTC
- DJUSD
- CATA Governing Board
How are mentors identified?
- Mentors are identified from the pool of over 800 agriculture instructors in the State of California; in both secondary and postsecondary institutions. Any mentor candidate who is currently employed by a postsecondary institution more than 50% (.5 FTE) may not have been removed from the high school classroom for more than 10 academic years.
- Mentors may also come from the pool of recently retired agriculture teachers who had proven records of effective classroom instruction and participation in the Agriculture Education Model.
- Mentors are identified and matched in collaboration between CATIP Facilitators, CATIP administration, Candidates, and the Candidate's School District.
How are mentors compensated?
- Mentors are paid by the school district of the Credential Candidate, if at all. Effectively, they are hired in the manner that the participating school district deems appropriate, and paid according to their salary/stipend system.
- CATIP does not negotiate stipends, contracts, or policies of the participating school district.
