The idea of Mentorship is central in my life right now, as I was at a fork in the road that I have reached after teaching full time for many years and then quitting my job to take time to reflect on what I was doing and what I wanted to be doing. A few years ago I had started an organization, Youth Engineering and Science, in which I bring science and engineering activities to children in Philadelphia during the summer. The work I’ve been doing in this organization has been a passion of mine that has made me reflect on why I teach, and in what settings. After teaching in private suburban schools for 25 of the past 30 years, I wanted to explore whether I would like to become a teacher in an urban school in Philadelphia. After one year of taking classes at Arcadia and immersing myself in urban schools, I had come to the week of making the big decision early this month.
I had the opportunity to either take a job in a public urban school or one at a private suburban school. The urban school choice would result in a completely new career path and in many ways I would be like a beginning teacher. Although I have a lot of experience that has equipped me for the suburban school, it would be a new institution, with new colleagues and opportunities for fresh ways to learn and grow. In the urban school I would need mentors to help me with the basics, such as how to maintain a positive restorative classroom environment. In the suburban school, I would be taking on more of a leadership role in my department in helping others to develop and use inquiry based practices.
In trying to make this decision, the questions I had for myself were:
· Why did I want to take a sabbatical from teaching?
· How did the sabbatical help me accomplish my goals?
· Which type of position would meet my needs best?
· In which position would I be able to thrive?
A big force driving my decision was my reflection on how well would be able to face my fears. I am always afraid of failing. It was a huge act of courage for me to take the steps I have taken so far this year. In the past, powerful mentoring relationships have been instrumental in helping me to overcome my fear and helping me to push forward and try new things.
In my past position I was fortunate to have a great mentor as my supervisor. Even though she was my mentor, I also helped her in many ways. Ours was a strong mentor relationships like Meenoo Rami describes in her book, Thrive: 5 Ways to (Re) Invigorate Your Teaching. The mutual respect and admiration we had for each other made me feel less afraid to make mistakes and to strive to learn and grow. As a result of the empowerment I had from this relationship and from my own experience, I started mentoring others in the last 10 years. In doing so, I discovered a new joy in my experience as an educator. The learning I have done from mentoring has helped me continue to learn and grow and has lifted my soul.
No matter which decision I would make, I hope I will be able to do both mentoring and being mentored.
I had the opportunity to either take a job in a public urban school or one at a private suburban school. The urban school choice would result in a completely new career path and in many ways I would be like a beginning teacher. Although I have a lot of experience that has equipped me for the suburban school, it would be a new institution, with new colleagues and opportunities for fresh ways to learn and grow. In the urban school I would need mentors to help me with the basics, such as how to maintain a positive restorative classroom environment. In the suburban school, I would be taking on more of a leadership role in my department in helping others to develop and use inquiry based practices.
In trying to make this decision, the questions I had for myself were:
· Why did I want to take a sabbatical from teaching?
· How did the sabbatical help me accomplish my goals?
· Which type of position would meet my needs best?
· In which position would I be able to thrive?
A big force driving my decision was my reflection on how well would be able to face my fears. I am always afraid of failing. It was a huge act of courage for me to take the steps I have taken so far this year. In the past, powerful mentoring relationships have been instrumental in helping me to overcome my fear and helping me to push forward and try new things.
In my past position I was fortunate to have a great mentor as my supervisor. Even though she was my mentor, I also helped her in many ways. Ours was a strong mentor relationships like Meenoo Rami describes in her book, Thrive: 5 Ways to (Re) Invigorate Your Teaching. The mutual respect and admiration we had for each other made me feel less afraid to make mistakes and to strive to learn and grow. As a result of the empowerment I had from this relationship and from my own experience, I started mentoring others in the last 10 years. In doing so, I discovered a new joy in my experience as an educator. The learning I have done from mentoring has helped me continue to learn and grow and has lifted my soul.
No matter which decision I would make, I hope I will be able to do both mentoring and being mentored.