Meet Emanuel County Schools mentors

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New teachers in Emanuel County Schools are blessed to have some extremely effective teacher mentors. Our mentors are exemplary classroom teachers and excellent professional role models. These mentors are committed to our Emanuel County Schools Teacher Induction Program and are important in improving new teacher effectiveness. As we show appreciation for these exceptional mentors, we also want to thank all the teachers who may not formally be designated as a mentor but mentor colleagues every day. Mentors make a difference in our profession, schools, and, most importantly, our students!

So, what is a mentor? Bob Proctor, motivational speaker and best-selling author, said, "A mentor is someone who sees more talent and ability within you than you see in yourself and helps bring it out of you." Effective mentors are well-respected and have a passion for helping others grow.

Whether mentoring someone professionally or personally, there is a great responsibility that comes with the role. I have been fortunate to be a mentor and be mentored. I felt a responsibility to be the best version of myself each time I have mentored. It takes time and energy to support, teach, be a role model, and show empathy while allowing the person to take risks and grow based on their strengths. Today, I still have meaningful relationships with many of those people.

Throughout my career, I have been blessed to have dedicated mentors. They encouraged and enabled my professional and personal development. Recently, I found a note of encouragement from a former co-teacher, who became one of my mentors, a great one at that. Although I was quite a bit older than her, she knew I was a new teacher who needed an experienced teacher to support me, share their knowledge, and guide me through challenges. Reading her note and reminiscing reminded me that we never forget those who go the extra mile for us, and whether we express it often or not, we never forget the good they do for us.