Teaching and Learning Department Coordinators Brittany Morales and Holly Miele led an orientation this Wednesday for the freshly revived Newberg-Dundee Public Schools Mentorship Program.
They instructed 28 mentors, all educators, on how to best support their mentees, who are elementary and secondary teachers seeking support.
“It’s helpful to have a person to share your struggles and to offer guidance,” Miele noted.
The mentor-mentee pairs have received a collaborative discussion guide and a handbook, and they will begin meeting in December. The pairs will engage in a sit-down discussion every two weeks, and they will connect over weekly check-ins to consider areas of growth during the school year. Mentors will tap into their own experiences and these materials to provide support and assist mentees in improving in four key areas:
- Professional responsibilities (such as record keeping and communicating),
- Planning and preparation (such as knowledge of the science of teaching and of resources),
- Classroom environment (such as managing student behavior and organizing physical space), and
- Instruction (such as engaging students in learning and communicating effectively with them).
Why did the Department choose to revive and prioritize this program? A strategic approach to support teachers benefits the district as a whole. The program, a collaborative effort led by T & L Department Director Jillian Felizarta and Miele, attracts and builds stronger educators, who will, in turn, increase student achievement and growth.
“Mentorship Programs help with staff retention and recruitment,” Morales said.
In terms of recruitment, new teachers often prioritize a School District if they know it has a Mentorship Program, Morales explained. When it comes to retention, having strong relationships builds community, and community keeps people connected to their work environment.
The approach worked for Miele early in her career, who thrived in a similar program at another district. Miele said she the sense of appreciation she felt mattered to her, and she wants others to feel the same way.
“It meant so much to be guided by a fellow teacher,” she said.
Photo: Teaching and Learning Department Coordinators Brittany Morales, left, and Holly Miele take a break between mentor orientation sessions on Nov. 29. The two worked together on the launch of the new teacher Mentorship Program, along with Director Jillian Felizarta.