THRIVE-ing with mentors
Recently, Michelle was asked to attend a meeting of Cotsen mentors to give advice to those mentors who were returning to the classroom after being away to participate in a two-year fellowship. During that Q & A session, someone asked for her top tips on the transition back to the classroom. Michelle responded that it is important to have a community, a support group, to help with the hard parts of teaching.
Transitions in life, big or small, can cause for moments of uncertainty or in our worlds – times of great doubt. These changes could be connected to teaching or it could be something unrelated to the profession, like picking up a new hobby or perfecting your home decor. Whatever the endeavor may be, during those times when you feel unsure of yourself, when you are doubting your decisions, we believe that’s the time to call on your community.
This takes us back to the first book we read together, Thrive: 5 Ways to (Re)invigorate Your Teaching by Meenoo Rami.
Immediately, Rami gives us one way to (re)invigorate our teaching, the first chapter is titled “Turn to Mentors.” The chapter cites research regarding why teachers leave the profession. “Thousands of teachers leave the profession because they feel a lack of support in their school communities. There is strong evidence that as many as fifty-six percent left the profession, ‘citing job dissatisfaction and a desire to find an entirely new career’ (Kopkowski 2008).” As defeating as that sounds, Meenoo goes on to say that “the research suggests that teachers who have had a more varied mentorship experience are more likely to thrive in their work and stay in the field.”
At first, both of us thought it would be a daunting task to find THE mentor, the ONE person we could turn to collaborate, commiserate, celebrate and cry with. But Meenoo says, “The important part about having mentors isn’t that we have formal roles, it’s that my mentors are helping me in the ways that I want and need to grow,” so, she has over half a dozen mentors! For example, she has one that helps her fine-tune her instruction, another one who dares her into new work, and one who helps her stay balanced.
After reading that chapter, it was so freeing to us that we could consider specific areas where we wanted to grow and think about the people who could help us. We both thought, “Hey, we can do that!” Right away, we decided to be each other’s professional reading mentors. Boom – one mentor found! Angela also wanted help in being able to ground her PDs in research and professional books as a staff developer, so she reached out to Renee Houser and asked her to be her mentor in that area. As Michelle headed back into the classroom, she found herself seeking advice from Cathy Skubik who has always been the kind of teacher she has aspired to be. Michelle also craved some mentorship in her personal life, as a mom of three boys, and found that through social media. Shout out to Rachel Hollis! Whatever the avenue may be, you can find mentors to fit your needs and to support you.
We feel like having a community is so important to keep us going and (re)invigorate us. It’s been because of that, that we have found this space. Now that we’ve shared some of our mentors. Who are some of yours? In what area do they help you to grow? Don’t have one yet? Connect with one and let us know who they are!
Cheers!
Your partners in possibility,
Michelle and Angela