(a) Persons designated as mentor teachers pursuant to this article shall be assigned duties and responsibilities in accordance with the following:
(1) The primary function of a mentor teacher shall be to provide assistance and guidance to new teachers. A mentor teacher may also provide assistance and guidance to more experienced teachers.
(2) Mentor teachers may provide staff development for teachers, and may develop special curriculum.
(3) A mentor teacher shall not participate in the evaluation of teachers.
(b) No administrative or pupil personnel services credential shall be required of any mentor teacher. Each mentor teacher shall spend, on the average, not less than 60 percent of his or her time in the direct instruction of pupils.
(c) For the purposes of determining administrator-teacher ratios, mentors shall be considered full-time teachers.
(Amended by Stats. 1983, Ch. 1302, Sec. 14.)