The Temple Independent School District, along with most schools in Texas, participate in district-wide mentoring programs, aimed at pairing first-year teachers with experienced veteran teachers, helping them out with the everyday growing pains of commanding a classroom.
In a way, it’s an apprenticeship.
“New teachers always need help and support,” said TISD director of recruiting Lydia Gaines. “The mentoring process is something that we feel is necessary. It’s a way for our teachers to collaborate with each other and provide support for one another.”
Every rookie teacher in the TISD is required to participate in the mentoring program, which has coordinators at each campus. The mentor teachers are selected by the campus principal, and are provided with a cash stipend for their efforts.
In 1999, the Texas Beginning Educator Support System program was established, providing grants to campuses like those in the TISD, allowing them to pay for mentoring programs. Since that time, TxBESS helped serve about 10,000 beginning teachers in more than 300 school districts.
Within the TISD program, mentors often meet weekly with the rookie teachers, discussing classroom procedures, while relaying advice. The mentors also attend monthly seminars, aimed at improving their ability to handle the new teachers.
“I was asked to be a mentor two years ago, and I took it as a huge compliment,” said Thornton Elementary School teacher Beth Olejnik. “I think it’s a wonderful opportunity to help out.
“So far, things have been amazing for me. The knowledge I have gained from attending the seminars and doing research has been priceless,” she said.
For the 2008-09 year, Ms. Olejnik will mentor two second-year teachers and first-year teacher Stephanie Rendon, a second-grade teacher at Thornton.
“I think mentoring is a fantastic idea,” Ms. Rendon said. “I think it will be a tremendous help throughout the school year. I know I’ll have my questions and things I need help with.”
Ms. Olejnik said she remembers how tough it was when she became a teacher about 15 years ago.
“I didn’t know how to put a grade book together or do some of the basic things that teachers have to do daily,” she said. “There are things they teach you in college, like techniques, but often they don’t teach you the basics, like how to organize a grading system.”
She said she tries to put herself back in that first-year mentally when she’s mentoring.
“I remember the challenges and stresses that came along with the job that I didn’t expect,” she said.
Besides being excited about the school year, Ms. Rendon is excited to be working with Ms. Olejnik.
“It’s going to help me come back after every talk and be more successful with the students,” Ms. Rendon said. “Sometimes things don’t go as you plan them, so it’s nice to have someone to bounce ideas around with.”
In the long run, mentoring can have a huge impact on a teacher’s career. All public school teachers within Texas are appraised annually, through either a process developed locally or the statewide Professional Development and Appraisal System, which the TISD uses.
Ms. Gaines, recruiting director, said the mentoring program could help teachers improve their appraisals.
Thornton principal Mark Fleming agreed.
The program allows teachers to see what the makeup is of a “very-good teacher,” he said.
One thing about first-year teachers is that they’re always full of energy, Fleming said.
“They have all of these ideas and a strong desire to help children,” he said. “I think the communication that is provided in the mentoring process can help keep that energetic feeling when things don’t go as planned.”
