The Mentor and the Mentee

 Hello everyone! Welcome to another weekly blog post! I'm so glad you're here and I hope what I have to share with you this week helps you to think about your lifelong journey of learning as an educator, where you are in it, and where you may be going. In my blog last week I briefly mentioned this topic, so I knew this is what I wanted to talk about today with you. 

Let’s dive into a special topic this week that is especially meaningful to me, and I hope it becomes more prominent for you- teacher mentoring and peer support. 

A former co-worker once told me she felt that teaching was the most lonely job. Most teachers are in their classrooms with their students for more than six hours a day, and there is little interaction with others. Teachers know the latest childhood cartoons, or young adult conversations happening on social media, but even keeping up with news about what's happening in the building seems scarce.  It’s true that we can feel isolated and alone being in the classroom, I know at times I've felt this way. 

This is why continuing to connect with others who enjoy the same things as you do is a vital part of our work. Other educators who share the same interests, teach the same grades and subjects know exactly how you feel, and you can relate closely on so many levels. Equally as important is the idea of mentoring. Even after many years of teaching, I still seek out mentoring from others to guide me and challenge my knowledge. Many times it's been educators who have taught my grade level, or love literacy as much as I do. For me, I now see that my mentors are starting to stretch beyond the boundaries of a school building or classroom walls. As I start to find my way in the literacy world and strive to be a literacy leader, I know I have to change my direction on whom I turn to for advice. You may not be there yet friends and that's fine! Just know if you are, don't feel guilty. I always say that since we exist in a "teaching bubble" we need to hear the opinions of others too. 

I also have reached the point where I provide mentoring for early career teachers because I highly believe  it's the most valuable thing you could do with your time as a seasoned educator, and if you're an early career teacher, it's beyond worth it to have a mentor. Who is someone you feel inspires you and provides you with guidance and support? Who can you turn to when you need advice or want to share a “crazy” idea you want to try? That person is a mentor to you! Wanting to have a mentor or coach does not mean you are weak or you don’t know what you’re doing. To me, I feel it’s the exact opposite! Being a professional means you acknowledge you have room to grow no mater how many years you've been teaching, and others can help you be even better at what you do. For my seasoned teachers out there, please consider being a mentor. Not only is it rewarding, but it teaches us leadership skills and allows us to give our best to someone else who needs it. What we take away from our own mentors can be passed down to someone who looks to you for guidance. I’ve also learned a lot from my early career teachers in return; their charismatic energy and knowledge of the latest technology and strategies make it a two-way-street of success. 

Coaching/ mentoring is an essential part to our work; for ourselves and others, Don’t hesitate to seek it out for yourself and be the one others turn to for advice all at the same time. What we do is an unending circle. After all, we make all other professions possible, so we have to be on top of our game always. We may be in the classroom alone, but we are not in the profession alone. Let’s work together to make sure we continue to support each other while we learn and grow together! 

Final Thoughts: Keep reaching out to others you admire and emulate, they will be your source of inspiration. Keep "paying it forward" to future generations of teachers, they need us, and the sustainability of education depends on them; therefore, it depends on us. Keep surrounding yourself with people and opportunities and others in the field, it will help with feeling isolated. Finally, keep reminding yourself that you are enough, and without educators, not much else could exist. We are a vital part of our society, and we need to support one another, ourselves, to make sure we can support all other professions.