After the success of the inaugural leadership mentorship program, Tech & Learning is now accepting applications for both mentors and mentees for its second cohort. This three-month program will match veteran leaders with emerging ones, ideally pairing them to the work that both pursue.
This free/volunteer program will include regular meetings, activities, networking, and more, all designed to bolster personal growth and learning, as well as the general educational leadership pipeline.
“Through this mentoring program we are hoping to bridge the gap between established and emerging leaders, helping districts eliminate silos and collaborate to foster ongoing generations of people centered leaders,” says Marquita Amoah, Tech & Learning Event Partnership Development Director who will be overseeing the program.
With this program, Tech & Learning also hopes to capitalize on the collected professional experience and innovation that is so prominent among its advisors and on display during regional leadership summits, and share it more widely. As most educators know, the profession tends to be very siloed and fraught with internal politics, so being able to connect beyond your own school, district, and state can provide a unique opportunity to build your career pathway.
During the inaugural cohort, organizers noted that while demographics and district size played a role, the "chemistry" of the professional relationship was the true determinant of success. Participants said they realized that it wasn't about finding someone who had the exact same job but it was about finding someone who understood the pressure they were under.
Why be a mentor?
Being a mentor provides an opportunity to give back without heavy time commitment and shape the next generation of education leaders. It will inspire you by exposing you to new perspectives, and also keep you connected to national education trends and conversations. It will also help you expand leadership influence.
During the first cohort, veteran leaders, often entrenched in established systems, found themselves reinvigorated by the fresh perspectives and questioning strategies of their mentees. And it wasn't just a one-way street. The mentors who participated told Tech & Learning repeatedly that they learned just as much from the mentees. It forced them to reflect on their own practices in a way they hadn't in years.
Why be a mentee?
If you’re an emerging district leader, this opportunity provides access to a trusted sounding board that can help you develop and grow your leadership mindset and confidence. You will also break out of your own school silo and gain insights on challenges in other schools and districts, which can inform best practices for your own challenges.
The mentorship program acted as a mirror, validating the experiences of the mentees who participated. Hearing a seasoned CIO or Director of Technology admit to having the same doubts or facing the same roadblocks provided a massive psychological boost.
"There was a collective sigh of relief. Just hearing someone else say, 'I don't know the answer to that either,' was incredibly empowering for our cohort."
