PART 1: HOW TO BE A GREAT MENTOR
Self-Assessment
Prompt: Think of a person who had a positive and enduring impact on your personal or professional life, someone worthy of being called your mentor.
Evidence of Learning
1. What from the TedX video caused you to think more deeply about becoming a mentor?
Reflection: The segment from the TedX video causing me to think more deeply about becoming a mentor is the essential idea that becoming a mentor is a deliberate and intentional passing of a baton to the next generation. I am at the point in my career where I am closer to retirement and find myself considering when I will take this action. Interestingly, it is also the time in my career where I am thoughtfully considering who I will be leaving my responsibilities to and what can I do to prepare them to assume this work. Recently, we have found ourselves hiring long-term subs and not all candidates have been the right fit when making decisions about probationary positions. After watching this video, I find myself asking what conscious steps I can take to help those beginning their journey. I have often thought of myself as someone who leads by example, but now I find myself questioning what more I can do to support the transition to the next generation in our department.
2. From the Self-Assessment Inventory, what stands out the most about the questions and your answers?Reflection: What stands out most to me about the Self-Assessment Inventory questions and answers is the self-reflecting behaviors I have performed without the conscious or mandatory reason to do so. My father was an administrator, and I know how many respected him for his ability to listen, contemplate, justify and explain his decisions. It is a behavior I hoped I could also perform as a professional and even as a friend, so I question if I have successfully acquired and demonstrated this trait over the course of my career. I also wonder if I have successfully acquired and demonstrated those traits of the individual I cited in the self-assessment. Lastly, I believe the questions and my answers reflect self-perceived weaknesses that I always try to overcome to with hard work and determination. I know I am not perfect individual, so I need to be able communicate with a mentee the ability to self-assess and take corrective action without someone else pointing out the need to do so.
3. What do you believe you might need help with as a mentor in our school district?
Reflection: As a mentor in our school district, I believe I may need help in identifying those component pieces that are not directly established by the program’s leader(s). So much of the job I do now is instinctive or second nature because I have been doing it for extended periods of time. How do I identify these essential pieces that I need to ensure are shared with a future mentee? I am sure I have a lot to learn about assuming this role so I’m sure these is more I may need help with.
Self-Assessment
Prompt: Think of a person who had a positive and enduring impact on your personal or professional life, someone worthy of being called your mentor.
- What was it about them did you connect with?
- What qualities do you have to become a great mentor for a new teacher in our district?
- Are there areas that you can anticipate needing guidance or support?
Evidence of Learning
1. What from the TedX video caused you to think more deeply about becoming a mentor?
Reflection: The segment from the TedX video causing me to think more deeply about becoming a mentor is the essential idea that becoming a mentor is a deliberate and intentional passing of a baton to the next generation. I am at the point in my career where I am closer to retirement and find myself considering when I will take this action. Interestingly, it is also the time in my career where I am thoughtfully considering who I will be leaving my responsibilities to and what can I do to prepare them to assume this work. Recently, we have found ourselves hiring long-term subs and not all candidates have been the right fit when making decisions about probationary positions. After watching this video, I find myself asking what conscious steps I can take to help those beginning their journey. I have often thought of myself as someone who leads by example, but now I find myself questioning what more I can do to support the transition to the next generation in our department.
2. From the Self-Assessment Inventory, what stands out the most about the questions and your answers?Reflection: What stands out most to me about the Self-Assessment Inventory questions and answers is the self-reflecting behaviors I have performed without the conscious or mandatory reason to do so. My father was an administrator, and I know how many respected him for his ability to listen, contemplate, justify and explain his decisions. It is a behavior I hoped I could also perform as a professional and even as a friend, so I question if I have successfully acquired and demonstrated this trait over the course of my career. I also wonder if I have successfully acquired and demonstrated those traits of the individual I cited in the self-assessment. Lastly, I believe the questions and my answers reflect self-perceived weaknesses that I always try to overcome to with hard work and determination. I know I am not perfect individual, so I need to be able communicate with a mentee the ability to self-assess and take corrective action without someone else pointing out the need to do so.
3. What do you believe you might need help with as a mentor in our school district?
Reflection: As a mentor in our school district, I believe I may need help in identifying those component pieces that are not directly established by the program’s leader(s). So much of the job I do now is instinctive or second nature because I have been doing it for extended periods of time. How do I identify these essential pieces that I need to ensure are shared with a future mentee? I am sure I have a lot to learn about assuming this role so I’m sure these is more I may need help with.