Mutual Mentoring for Mid-Career Teachers

Karen Weller Swanson, EdD, was a Professor of Curriculum and Instruction. She has mentored teachers in master’s programs at George Mason University and the University of Nebraska. Karen was the Director of the Ph.D. in Curriculum and Instruction program at Mercer University. In this role she mentored doctoral students in research, writing, and career development. Karen has served on the board of the Association for Middle Level Education and as Chair of the Research Advisory Board and Editor of Research in Middle Level Online. Karen also serves on the board of the Colorado Association of Middle Level Education. She is currently an eighth-grade science teacher in Colorado.Micki M. Caskey, PhD, is a Professor Emerita in the Department of Curriculum and Instruction in the College of Education at Portland State University. She specializes in mentoring teachers in professional practice, middle grades education, and doctoral education programs. She has experience as an associate dean for academic affairs, doctoral program director, writing coach, and teacher educator. She is a co-series editor of The Handbook of Research in Middle Level Education and The Handbook of Resources in Middle Level Education. Micki is a former middle school teacher who taught in urban settings for more than 20 years.

"With this book, Caskey and Swanson are meeting a real need in our education community: to support mid-career educators at risk of leaving the profession. Using a trekking metaphor and icons to match, they have created a clear and helpful guide for navigating the challenges of sustaining yourself in teaching beyond those early years, including a 'teacher-friend' mentoring model that should be used to support teachers during this critical and often overlooked time."—Katy Farber, Assistant Professor and co-author of Real Talk for New Teachers: Tools for Building a Sustainable Career"Whether you’re on a 'solo trek' or a 'journey with a partner,' Caskey and Swanson’s book is filled with productive questions and strategies for mid-career teachers. These authors powerfully elevate the teacher retention conversation by highlighting the great potential of mutual mentoring. They recognize the challenges of the profession and provide the scaffolding to support even the most experienced educators. It’s the brightly wrapped gift I wish we could give all teachers!"—Penny Bishop, Dean of Boston University Wheelock College of Education and Human Development and co-author of Real Talk for New Teachers: Tools for Building Sustainable Career"Never stop trekking. Intentionally developed for educators with 5 to 20 years of experience, Swanson and Caskey’s Mutual Mentoring for Mid-Career Teachers: Trekking with Colleagues for Joy and Growth reads like a wise trail guide. The 'choose-your-own-adventure' style of the book puts the power in the hands of the reader to plot the course while the symbolic gear that shows up in each chapter reminds readers that they are never without support. Whether you read the book while on a solo exploration, on a journey with a teacher-friend, or part of a book club, Swanson and Caskey empower you to embrace an adventure that leads to greater efficacy and renewed passion for the classroom."—Matt Moulton, PhD, President, Colorado Association of Middle Level Education

• Part 1: Wandering 1. Mutual Mentoring: Teacher-Friends 2. Self-Directed Learning: Trekking with a Partner or Solo 3. Communication: Dialogue, Conversation, and Good Talk 4. Practice: Going Deeper and Moving Forward Part 2: Exploring 5. Resilience, Transformative Learning, and Teacher Identity 6. Packing, Unpacking, and Repacking 7. Critical Thinking, Passion, and Work-Life Balance Part 3: Venturing 8. Preparing for an Adventure 9. On Our Way 10. Looking Back, Looking Ahead