We understand that becoming a mentor is not a rite of passage for all educators. But too often, we are in the minority in that understanding.

Effective mentoring does not mean simply asking a veteran teacher to teach a new teacher "how they do it." Educators bring individuality to instruction....

What does it mean to be a mentor? Though Mr. Webster may define it as “an experienced and trusted adviser,” we aren’t convinced his definition has been actualized in the field of education. 

After all, though many mentors are by definition “experienced,” that...

Mentoring is a process--not a sprint to a goal. A mentor is empowered to offer professional expertise as well as support to a less experienced colleague or a peer. A mentor serves as a teacher, sounding board, and advocate for another colleague.

The focus and goal of mentoring is not to point...