The best teachers learn from their teachers too. As school heads we are also “teachers” and part of our duties is to train and mentor new and unexperienced teachers, we refer to as inductee.
Mentoring is not only a support for what and how to teach. More importantly it is integral to the professional development and empowerment of the mentors and inductees to imbibe the true meaning of professional consultation, collegiality, and collaboration in the workplace. It embraces intellectual, moral, and emotional support for “colleagueship” characterized by professional sharing, working in teams and observing peers.
The mentoring role is a unique relationship between a beginning and a more experienced teacher. This relationship should be built on mutual trust and respect, a reciprocity anchored on professionalism. The mentor does not assume the role of a “know-it-all” or a “follow me” peer but takes leadership in building a relationship among colleagues who are inquiring into what is effective and reflective teaching. Each member of that relationship, the mentor and the inductee, brings important knowledge and skills in building a structure within the context of the culture of each school or cluster of schools.
Administrators can improve mentoring to new teacher by doing the following:
- Provide appropriate support for beginning teachers as they “navigate” their first three years. As new teachers, venues for skills development such as trainings, seminars and workshops can be utilized to develop their capabilities. Their routine activities like class room management, accomplishing school forms and lesson planning must be monitored for them to develop the “good habits”.
- Establish collegial relationships between the experienced mentors and the beginning teachers over time. Master teachers can be tapped in “modelling” for new teachers. The “buddy” system is another way of mentoring for new teachers.
- Retain experienced teachers in the system by giving proper recognition and incentives. Teachers are like wine. Newbies can learn a lot from the seniors. Teachers Day celebration, recognition day and commencement exercises should be an occasion in recognizing the senior teachers who have reached milestones in their teaching careers.
- Improve the academic achievement of learners while teachers (mentors and inductees) learn from each other. Best practices of teachers must be highlighted during school learning action cells (SLAC) and meetings.
It is nor how many classrooms we have constructed during our incumbency that we are remembered. As school leaders let it be our legacy to produce better teachers and future school heads.
By: John R. Quiroz Head | Teacher-III | Limay National High School
