Local Adviser Guidelines
Welcome, Local Advisers!
A local adviser serves as a mentor to new teachers and shares their own experiences on how to be a successful exchange visitor teacher and cultural ambassador of their country. The local adviser helps new teachers to transition into the new community and shares experiences and cultural opportunities.
A local adviser is not an employee of Participate Learning and will serve in an advisory capacity only. Any serious questions or concerns a teacher may have should immediately be brought to the attention of the Teacher Resources department. Below are ways a local adviser may assist new teachers.
Thanks again for your interest and help in providing assistance to new Participate Learning teachers. We have put together the following information as a reference and guidance for your work. Please review the information and contact us if you have any questions.
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Checklist | Checkpoints and Reports | Compensation | Contact Information
Checklist
Prior to your advisee’s arrival
1. You will be invited to join Participate Learning’s new Local Adviser Information Center where you will have access to details about your advisees: their names, contact information, and arrival information.
2. At least one month prior to their arrival, (or earlier, if possible) send your advisee(s) an email with the following:
- Introduce yourself and your community
- Gather information on your advisees’ needs for temporary and permanent housing and transportation options
- Research local housing options
- Provide advisee with three temporary housing options
- Provide advisee with (at least) three permanent housing options
- Describe what is in the advisee’s welcome packet (maps, housing guide, etc.)
- Explain how you will help them once they arrive at the district
- Ask them what their plans are for daily transportation and follow up with guidance & advice where necessary prior to arrival
3. Prepare a welcome packet and include:
- Your contact information, Participate Learning Teacher Resources contact information
- Helpful phone numbers, emails, and addresses (urgent care, hospital, utility companies, DMV, Social Security office, BCBS, Banks, car dealerships)
- Housing guide
- Temporary housing options
- Permanent housing options
- Car insurance options
Arrival/Advisee Orientation week
1. Early in the week you will be notified of your advisee’s arrival date and time at the district office. Details for each of these will be posted in the Local Adviser Information Center. Make sure to check your email at the beginning of each week to learn of new arrivals.
2. Call each advisee at the hotel during the orientation week. They will love to hear from you. The purpose of this call is to greet them and confirm that you will meet them at the district office at the end of Orientation.
3. Meet each advisee at the district office or other designated meeting time and place after Participate Learning Orientation.
4. Take advisee to their temporary housing.
5. Assist advisee in obtaining temporary transportation. Teachers will have information about car options provided at Orientation, but may need a ride for the first days. Please be prepared to assist them in looking for transportation.
Give advisee a welcome packet composed of the items you prepared in step 3.
After initial arrival
1. Take advisee(s) to their local Social Security office as soon as the teacher has a local address.
2. Take advisee to see at least three permanent housing options.
3. Remind teachers to take their health screening IF required by the district.
4. Help advisee locate the following resources/places:
- Bank or ATM machine
- Their school(s)
- School District office
- Reputable car dealerships if needed
- A grocery store with a pharmacy
- Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV)
- Social Security office
- Post office
- Hospital/urgent care/clinic
Local Adviser Checkpoints and Reports
When should you call your advisees?
Checking in with your advisees and sending reports to Participate Learning about their transition and adjustment are key parts of the Local Adviser Program. As a local adviser for new Participate Learning teachers, you play an important role in making the transition that is much easier for your colleagues. Thank you for your help and support!
Before arrival
Before your advisee’s arrival, you should email them at least one time to introduce yourself. We have prepared a local adviser checklist to help you prepare this initial email contact.
After arrival
Once your advisees arrive in the U.S. your communications should be by phone.
- From your advisee’s arrival through the end of February: call your advisee twice a month
- February: check in with each advisee one final time and submit the final status report for each advisee by February 28th
Social event (November or December)
Organize a social celebration, either around the Thanksgiving or winter holidays to reconnect with your advisees in person and celebrate their successful transition. Feel free to connect with other local advisers in your area to organize an event. PLEASE make sure to send in some photos of your get-together to [email protected].
Remind advisees that Participate Learning support is always available to them throughout their stay in the United States.
Your reports
How
Reports are submitted from the Local Adviser Information Center. Starting in June, you will have access to the Information Center as soon as you have a teacher assigned to you as an advisee.
What
Transition Checklist:
In this transition checklist, you will be asked to indicate if the teacher has obtained each of the following: Social Security Card, Transportation, Temporary housing, Permanent housing. You can report on these items individually as soon as you get confirmation that the teacher has completed each step.
Teacher Check-in Report:
In this monthly report, you will be asked to comment on the teacher’s overall emotional state and adjustment. You should complete this report once per month through the end of February. You may submit an additional report any given month if there is new information you would like to add regarding the teacher’s adjustment and well-being. When documenting issues or concerns in these reports, tell us what happened? (describe behaviors observed and reported by teachers). You should also indicate your advisee’s interpretation of what happened in addition to any advice or insights you can provide based on your own experience.
Why
Teacher Support staff will review your reports to identify any teachers who need additional support from Participate Learning staff and to evaluate overall progress in their adjustment to life in the U.S. We also love to hear about how well new teachers are doing thanks to their adviser’s wonderful support in their transition.
Compensation
Payment per advisee: $450 per advisee, before taxes.
Timeline
The local adviser payment will be disbursed in two installments. The November installment will be 60% of the total payment. The remaining 40%, will be paid in March. Both installments will be electronically deposited to the bank account we have on file for you.
From the $450 payment, you will be expected to allot $20 per advisee for a social activity that you host during the first semester. $30 per advisee should be allotted for gas and any other costs incurred while acting as a local adviser.
What we need from you:
- Advisee reports submitted per instructions in the Check Points and Reports section
- Your correct bank account information
Contact information
Participate Learning Teacher Resources
Phone: 1-919-265-5113
Email: [email protected]
When to contact Participate Learning Teacher Resources
- Advisee questions about their school, teaching, curriculum, classroom management
- Advisee questions about visas, spouse work permits, Social Security numbers, health and dental insurance, travel, certification/ licensure, change of address
Participate Learning Teachers Emergency Line
Phone: 1-800-952-4521
When to call the Emergency Line:
Contact the Emergency Line only in cases of extreme emergencies after regular Participate Learning office hours (8:30 a.m.–5:30 p.m.). If you have a teacher in crisis requiring immediate attention from a Participate Learning staff member, call the number and leave a detailed message. The on-duty staff member will return your call.
Participate Learning Local Adviser support (main office)
Phone: 1-919-265-5141
Email: [email protected]
When to contact Participate Learning Local Adviser Support:
Local adviser questions/concerns about advisees (e.g. homesickness, depression, illness, family concerns).
Local adviser payments.
Participate Learning main office
Front Desk Phone: 919-967-5144
Office Hours: Monday – Friday 8:30 a.m.– 5:30 p.m.
Physical Address: 201 Sage Road, Suite 200, Chapel Hill, N.C. 27514