Mentoring Principals
It all begins with an idea.
Getting your first principalship or taking on a new challenge at a new school is a invigorating and life-changing experience. Ideas are flowing, new relationships are forming, and you are in the spotlight. You are in charge! Doubt and questions may settle in after a few weeks. Who do you turn to? Your staff leadership? Your supervisor? Your colleagues? More and more school administrators are finding the benefit of a mentor that is none of these. Turning to an outside experienced professional who can assist them in thinking through tough questions and exploring ideas before sharing with staff members is gaining steam. A qualified mentor asks good questions and seeks to build on the strengths of a new principal to find solutions to pressing issues and to look forward with vision for long-term planning. A good mentor is hyper focused on building up the efficacy of their mentee. The best mentors seek to work their way out of the job!
Is mentorship reserved solely for new principals? Not at all. Principals who take on challenging schools and/or principals who are in situations where the school changes rapidly also benefit from added expertise that can be gleaned from a mentor. In more than one situation I have seen schools move from “improvement status” to functioning well after collaborating with a mentor to strengthen their skills.
What to learn more? Contact me.
Selecting a Mentor
It all begins with an idea.
How do you select a mentor? How do you know if they will be effective?
A mentor may be selected for you by your administration. Be open. Most supervisors of principals know their principals well and can ascertain whether the mentor is a good fit for you. If they miss the mark, talk to them about how you are feeling. Perhaps you are choosing a mentor yourself. If so, seek out someone who has mentored a number of principals. Some may even have national mentor certification. These are the mentors that have enough experience in working in schools to have seen the ups and downs and successes and failures of ideas and initiatives. They can help you diagnose where you are and help you develop viable plans and solutions. You and your mentor will build a confidential professional relationship and spend a good amount of time with one another. You need to like the time you spend together, so, you need to like the person!
Traits of a good mentor are many. A good mentor…
- Is a great listener
- Asks good thought-provoking questions
- Seeks to understand first
- Is a good observer
- Prioritizes their time with you
- Helps you research ideas
- Provides potential options; without mandates
- Helps you identify opportunities and obstacles
- Has a broad base of expertise and experience
- Is well trained in the skills of a mentor
