COMET: The Center on Mentoring for Effective Teaching

The Center on Mentoring for Effective Teaching (COMET) is a research-based mentoring practice and research program for Head Start teachers in early childhood education. COMET mentoring aims to develop lasting professional competencies in teachers to provide high quality education for children’s school readiness in literacy, social-emotional and behavioral  development. Following Head Start standards and aims in curriculum and instruction, COMET pursues an on-site, in-vivo, and individualized mentoring, in which teachers and mentors work collaboratively to develop professional competencies that can be used independently after the completion of the program.  

COMET defines teacher mentoring as the process of professional development in which a knowledgeable professional assists less experienced teachers to build lasting professional competence. Unlike previous mentoring programs, which focused mainly on beginning teachers,  COMET included experienced teachers in mentoring so that they could have opportunities of professional support and could upgrade their skills and knowledge in their profession (Danielson,  
2002).