Part 3 Mentor Inspiration

One quote that I connect with is by Winston Churchill, who said, "We make a living by what we get, but we make a life by what we give."  First, I find this inspirational and really at the core of why our profession is as rewarding as it is.  I also feel thankful that my role at SH has evolved over the years into a coaching role where I have been able to share and teach what I have learned regarding instructional technology to my colleagues and students.  I have felt that it has been even more rewarding than when I was in the classroom as I can see impacts across many places rather than just in my room alone.  

Another quote that resonated with me is "A mentor is someone who sees more talent and ability within you than you see in yourself and helps bring it out of you." - Bob Goshen.  I believe educators are very humble people overall.  I have heard many people I have worked with say things like; "I have no idea how to do _____." or "I am an idiot when it comes to _____."  I have seen many people who have said those things become extremely proficient at those very skills they believed that they could not do.  I like the idea that other can see the best in you and try to help you use what you already have inside.  


https://www.mentorcliq.com/blog/inspiring-mentoring-quotes
The website above had a great quote by Steven Spielberg. "The delicate balance of mentoring someone is not creating them in your own image, but giving them the opportunity to create themselves.”  

Love this one.  Everyone is their own person and has unique skills and I think mentoring is trying to help them highlight those.

I really like the quote by Steve Jobs that says, “My job is not to be easy on people. My job is to take these great people we have and push them and make them even better.” In a school setting, we are all very qualified professionals who have the ability to be great and to do great things. I think mentoring is about encouraging people to use the skills that they have and make them even better than what they are now. Of course, there is an appropriate and supportive way to push others while still remaining kind and encouraging. Finding the balance between those things is what makes a great mentor in my opinion.

From the website provided or a resource you found, in one paragraph, explain how you connect with one or two quotes.  Please share resource links!!

As a coach of over 15 years, the Steve Jobs quote really resonated with me: 
“My job is not to be easy on people. My job is to take these great people we have and to push them and make them even better.” – Steve Jobs
I would be proud to reference this quote as a teacher, a coach, and a mentor. I have always believed in the practice of being kind but firm, and giving compliments and encouragement twice as much as giving critique. 

If you worked in the middle school the summer after the Barbie movie was released... you'll know that I was deeply moved by it. Besides the messages of equality, self discovery, and the celebration of female empowerment - I have continued to resonate with one particular quote from it - "I have no difficulty holding both logic and feeling at the same time. And it does not diminish my powers. It expands them." 
For many years of my life, I thought that I was flawed because I was so empathetic. But as I have grown, I have learned that it is actually one of my greatest super powers. I work tirelessly to remember that children (and adults) are just people. And people make mistakes. And people deserve grace, and forgiveness. And if no one else in their life is capable of giving them these things when they need them... I will.

As a basketball coach, I was immediately drawn to the John Wooden quote, as I've read up on him over the years and he has several pearls of wisdom. The one listed on the referenced site says: "It is important for us to see that our mentors are human and, therefore, fallible; it makes our own short-comings more tenable." I've referenced in earlier evidence in this badge process that nothing or nobody is perfect. I think it is important for mentors to share their own shortcomings or struggles so younger teachers don't feel there is some impossible standard to attain. Even us as experienced educators make mistakes and struggle...hopefully not as much as when we just started out, but we're imperfect nonetheless. We strive to do the best we can...by preparing the proper way, delivering quality lessons and reflecting. And we find out along the way, inevitably, we can tweak things or look at things from a different perspective and improve ourselves. 

The other one that grabbed my attention was this quote from John Crosby: “Mentoring is a brain to pick, an ear to listen, and a push in the right direction.” I think this sums up our entire role as mentors. Answer whatever questions a new teacher may have. Sometimes we need to just listen if they need to vent. And sometimes we need to offer a better way of doing things in some corrective suggestions or in a little extra motivation. I think a mentor wears several hats and a good mentor knows when to wear each one. 

From the website shared in Part 3: Mentor Inspiration, I chose Steven Spielberg’s words, “The delicate balance of mentoring someone is not creating them in your own image, but giving them the opportunity to create themselves.” This quote reminds me that true mentorship in science isn’t about expecting the new teacher to replicate my teaching style or career path, but helping that new colleague discover their own. This resonates especially in teaching science, where each teacher brings their unique curiosity and methods, and my role is to nurture that personal style, not impose mine. With decades of experience, I offer guidance and encouragement, yet I remain attuned to my mentee's individuality, letting their passion and approach guide our conversations. Empathy helps me listen deeply, ensuring that my feedback affirms their voice and teaching style. Ultimately, I want to support them in growing into the best version of themselves, not because they mirror me, but because they grow into the best science teacher they can be.

1. "A mentor is someone who sees more talent and ability within you than you see in yourself and helps bring it out of you." - Bob Goshen

At the bottom of my email signature, I state "When one teaches, two learn" I feel this exemplifies the mentoring program.  Another I am fond of is "We must adapt to the kids, not the other way around".  Both quotes, and the one by Mr. Goshen exemplify the give and take of the mentorship program.   Both talk about being flexible and meeting the intern where they are at, and together working towards success.   I have gained as much, if not more, from mentoring from my interns.  I've not only met incredible humans, but these people have made me a stronger teacher.   

"You have to believe it’s possible and believe in yourself. Because after you’ve decided what you want, you have to believe it’s possible, and possible for you, not just for other people. Then you need to seek out models, mentors, and coaches.” – Jack Canfield

"Mentoring is a brain to pick, an ear to listen, and a push in the right direction." John C. Crosby

“I’ve learned that people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel.” — Maya Angelou

The Jack Canfield quote resonated with me because I personally struggle with believing in the possible when things get especially challenging.  I want to be a positive light in the person I am mentoring.  Even after our official mentoring window, I want to continue to be someone like the John Crosby quote. I have long loved the Maya Angelou quote.  There are many people that I do not remember specific conversations that I had, but I do remember how people have made me feel. 

Prompt: Read the list of 30 quotes.
1. Do any standout to you?
“Mentoring is not about making people like you, but about helping them become the best version of themselves.” ~David Stoddard

2. Do any remind you of your mentor?
“Mentoring is a brain to pick, an ear to listen, and a push in the right direction.” ~John Crosby

3. Do you see yourself in one of these quotes?
“The delicate balance of mentoring someone is not creating them in your image but giving them the opportunity to create themselves.” ~ Steven Spielberg

Evidence of Learning
Prompt: From the website provided or a resource you found, in one paragraph, explain how you connect with one or two quotes.
Reflection: Barack and Michelle Obama were strong advocates for mentoring disadvantaged and minority youths. Although their efforts reflect a need to bridge gaps, their overall message reflects the need for mentoring across personal and professional aspects of life. On January 25, 2011, First Lady Michelle Obama closed her remarks at the National Mentoring Summit sharing a lesson that each person deserves to have three types of friends: a friend to follow, a friend to walk alongside, and a friend to reach back for. It is this last friend, the one to reach back for, that Mrs. Obama identifies as being a mentor. To her, mentoring is vital because it is the opportunity “to lend our experience and our wisdom in the hopes that it will give someone after us the strength to reach a little higher and dream a little bigger.” This quote stands out to me because regardless of the circumstances, mentoring is important in our society for leaving the world a little better than the way we inherited it. It is my hope as a mentor to share the work (past and present) of myself and my colleagues while also finding a way to challenge a mentee to continue if not improve upon the work being done. Mentoring shouldn’t mean settling for the “status quo.” Rather, the act of mentoring should encourage the desire to achieve more than those that came before.

https://obamawhitehouse.archives.gov/the-press-office/2011/01/25/remarks-first-lady-national-mentoring-summit