Finding One's Way

Learn how to set up a mentoring program for your district or school that can help administrators be more effective at each stage of their careers. Crow and Matthews identify the functions, content, and meaning of mentoring in education and introduce the concept of mentoring as a career-long learning tool for educational administrators. They describe the different participants as proteges, who want or need assistance, and mentors, who lead and teach.

The authors show you how to create a well-planned, supported, and evaluated mentoring program for your school or district. Help administrators develop and maintain the skills, knowledge, and behaviors to excel in their careers. Your effective mentoring program can offer both proteges and mentors:

• New ideas for encouraging creativity
• Increased enthusiasm for the learning and teaching process
• Improved confidence and competence
• More effective use of reflective practices
• Long-lasting, meaningful friendships

The rewards of mentoring spread to include people on the periphery as well. Administrators in districts with mentoring programs find a higher caliber of recruit. School leaders become more involved in the community of learning. An attitude of lifelong learning begins to permeate the school or district culture.

This book covers the major issues of planning, mentor selection, training, evaluation - all those "unique ingredients" necessary at all stages of the administrative journey. For anyone who is involved in developing a mentoring program, who already is a mentor, or who wants to be or have a mentor. Crow and Matthews give you the ideas and tools you need to set up and maintain an effective mentoring program in your school or district.