The Northern New England Co Mentoring Network is supported with funding by the National Science Foundation Elementary, Secondary, and Informal Education (ESIE) Program Award # ESI-0101928 awarded to the Maine Mathematics and Science Alliance, PO Box 5359, Augusta, Maine 04332.

A Three-year Program of Professional Development for Middle and High School Mathematics and Science Teachers in Maine, New Hampshire and Vermont.

NNECN, established with funding from the National Science Foundation, is a collaboration between Maine, New Hampshire, and Vermont. This unique tri-state program addresses the critical need to support and retain qualified middle and high school mathematics and science teachers, while building strong teacher leadership in Northern New England. NNECN is an "enhanced mentoring" program, based on the belief that mentoring is more than one on one support.

NNECN differs from general mentoring and induction programs by its strong focus on mathematical and science content and pedagogical content knowledge combined with the use of a rich array of strategies and resources for supporting teacher development. NNECN mentors are accomplished teachers of science or mathematics who participate in a three-year program of professional development that prepares them for content-specific mentoring. NNECN mentors ground their work in research on student learning in science and mathematics, national and state content standards, theory and practice of effective professional development, and an understanding of adult learning.

The NNECN program is built on the concept of co-mentoring where reciprocal relationships between mentors, mentees, and their colleagues create and support the establishment of learning communities focused on science and mathematics teaching and learning. NNECN is guided by the belief that teachers at all levels of the teaching continuum are engaged in professional development throughout their career, starting with day one. With a vision of teaching and learning based on standards and research, combined with practical experience and reflection, NNECN mentors and mentees are focused on the goal of fostering student learning in science and mathematics.