#ISTE12: Collaborative Mentoring for New Teachers
It started as a simple idea…What if it were possible to mentor a new teacher via a virtual mentor instead of the traditional 1-to-1 mentoring model? What if you used the power of digital resources to aid in this support making sure that each had a particular strength in the key areas needed by a new teacher? What if you had key team members, virtual or on-site that each took a role in that work?
As a principal, I worked hard to mentor the new teachers I hired over the years…and there were many. Twice in my career as an administrator that spanned 19 years, I hired over 10 new teachers in 2 different schools to fill gaps left by veterans who were retiring. Frequently the funding for on campus mentor teachers was not available so as a result the need to provide mentoring and support to my new teachers fell heavily on my shoulders. It was an exhausting task but one that was necessary.
Fast forward 5 years to the revolution of the web as a source for educators, educational technology apps and social media. Now as these resource tools continue to grow and develop the potential to harness them to use as a “virtual mentor” is amazing! Will it take some work to develop a process? Yes. Is it possible to do and have it be as supportive as a traditional 1-to-1 mentoring model? Absolutely!
Enter Collaborative Mentoring for New Teachers! These 6 educators highlighted today, are committed to supporting new teachers and have graciously agreed to join me on my Panel at ISTE12, June 25th on this very topic! They play important roles in their respective schools and districts and the piece that binds us together is, like me, they believe in the power of virtual mentorship as a key support to new teachers! I want you to know them better as you think about how you or a colleague might be able to benefit from a “virtual mentoring” program.
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Steven W. Anderson is the Director of Instructional Technology for the Winston-Salem/Forsyth County Schools in Winston-Salem, NC. Steven has been a presenter at several educational technology conferences, including ISTE, ASCD and NCTIES, as well as served as a panelist at the #140 Conference in Los Angeles, New York and was a featured speaker at the first ever #140Edu Conference, focusing on the real-time web in education. He is also responsible in helping create #edchat, a weekly education discussion on Twitter that boasts over 500 weekly participants. Steven is a constant wealth of knowledge and shares tons of resources at Web20classroom.org.
Mary Beth Hertz
Mary Beth, or MB as she is known to her friends, began teaching in Philadelphia in 2004. She has been a Science teacher for grades K-6 and a Technology Teacher with her own computer lab, where she is still busy at work. One of the amazing current projects that Mary Beth launched is the AFPCS Gems Club which is an all girls robotics club at her school! MB is an enthusiastic supporter of new teachers. She has joined me as guest on New Teacher Chat, and shared a video with me on the New Teacher 1st Year YouTube channel. MB co-moderates #edchat, blogs here at Edutopia.org, MB Teach.com and is always willing to lend support to new teachers.
Patrick Larkin
Patrick is the former Principal of Burlington HS in Massachusetts and the newly appointed Assistant Superintendent for Burlington Public Schools. He just completed his 15th year as a high school administrator and loved every minute of it. He is a NASSP National Digital Principal Award Winner for 2012, supports a 1:1 iPad High School and is an Evangelist for Web 2.0 and Digital Tools. He is an active voice for administrators on Twitter and blogs at PatrickLarkin.com This blog, which is outstanding, provides the latest in news and updates on the happenings at Burlington High School along with information on various topics related to education. He is a model principal and one that all would be proud to work for!
Shannon Miller
Shannon is a Teacher Librarian & Tech Integrationist in Van Meter, Iowa. She loves connecting, creating, change, advocacy & NOISE. I first met Shannon on-line via #edchat. She has a tremendous, engaging energy. Whether sharing about the latest project with her learners at Van Meter or supporting a teacher on-line, Shannon can truly be counted on to go out of her way to support others. She has participated with me in New Teacher Chat, blogs here and is an active presence on Twitter! You can also find her teaching on-line at The Digital Teacher Series.
Dean Mantz
Dean has been in education for the last 14 years and credits his parents for teaching him to appreciate educators and develop such a strong passion to educate future leaders. Dean uses his blog to share interesting topics that he hopes will be thought provoking. One of his deepest interests is, Discovery Education. He is privileged to have been asked to serve on the Kansas Leadership Council with three fellow STAR members. He looks to aid his colleagues in spreading the benefits and opportunities of the Discovery products across the state of Kansas. He blogs here and is an active presence on Twitter!
Erin Klein
Erin is an educator who has used the power of social media to grow and flourish in her professional work with students and colleagues . Erin has her Master’s of Education in Curriculum and Instruction and teaches second grade. She is the technology co-chairperson for the Michigan Reading Association, a national A Plus Workshop Presenter, SMART Technologies Exemplary Educator, Really Good Stuff Monthly Blogger, Edutopia Guest Blogger, National Writing Project member, Teaching Blog Addict Business Manager and EduTech Blogger. She recently joined the blogging team at The Teachers Lounge. Erin is a constant positive presence on Twitter and you can find her blogging at Kleinspiration.com.
I’m inspired, daily as I interact with these six enthusiastic educators who believe in the power of collaborative mentorship and the work they do to support new and pre-service teachers in their own back yard and around the world. In addition, over a year ago I developed The New Teacher Mentoring Project at the Educators PLN. To make this happen, more than 170 educators have volunteered to mentor a new or even not so new teacher, virtually. This is an exciting project that is available to all and in the months ahead, I will be working to support this project to flourish!
Now that I’ve shared how I will be collaborating with these 6 wonderful educators from my PLN, I’d love to hear from you! Are you a new teacher? Do you support new teachers? Do you believe that collaborative, “virtual” mentorship is possible? Share with me your thoughts and I hope to see you at ISTE12!
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LISA DABBS
Wife. Mom. Educator. Author. She started her career as an elementary school teacher in Southern California. In this role as teacher, she assisted with a grant project and became the Project Director of a Language and Literacy program. Read more
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As the moderator of #gtchat on Twitter, I’m excited to see the ‘in real life’ collaboration that has developed from virtual PLNs! Twitter’s positive role in education as a resource in building powerful and demonstrative networks resulting in this panel of educators sharing at ISTE12 serves as a wake-up call to all involved in 21st century education.
Not only does Twitter facilitate relationships, it is the best source of free, professional development provided by master teachers on the web today. The creation of online mentoring of new teachers is an opportunity for the newest members of the education community to learn from forward-thinking, tech-savvy educators.
Kudos to Lisa and her team for their leadership in education as they continue to inspire a new generation of teachers!