Extra! Extra! Read All About It! Statewide Mentorship Experience Pilot

In the spring of 2023, 11 task force members representing a variety of programs and roles met to provide their input, guidance and expertise in order to deliver a new PD opportunity around mentoring adult educators.

The task force discussed at length how to:

1. supplement current “onboarding” mentorship programs for new staff (including instructors, managers and support staff) with ATLAS-sponsored mentoring/observation activities and supporting tools,
2. strengthen the current work of MN adult educators by connecting teachers, managers and support staff members to others who are in similar roles for mentoring and observation opportunities, and
3. provide leadership opportunities for those in mentoring roles, which in turn will build capacity for MN adult education leaders statewide.

What resulted from these thoughtful and productive conversations was the Statewide Mentorship Experience, which will pilot this fall.

What is the Statewide Mentorship Experience?

The Statewide Mentorship Experience is an ATLAS-sponsored initiative designed to support Minnesota ABE professionals through facilitating a relevant, meaningful, and effective mentorship experience between mentors and mentees.  Mentors and mentees may be managers, coordinators, support staff or instructors who are looking to intentionally support and learn from peers in MN ABE programs.

The Statewide Mentorship Experience takes place over a 12-week period and will be facilitated by the ATLAS Special Projects Coordinator, the ATLAS Director, and the MN Department of Education PD Specialist.

Focused on results!

Mentors and mentees will work together to develop SMART goal(s) around the mentee’s choice area of growth, and check-in periodically over the 12-week cycle.

CALL FOR APPLICATIONS for both MENTORS and MENTEES!

The deadline to apply to take part in this pilot (as a mentor or mentee) is September 15, 2023.

“Wait, I don’t think I’m qualified to be a mentor!”

Are you sure? A mentor is NOT someone who has all of the answers! Rather, a mentor is an experienced professional who has a particular skill set needed by the mentee; a colleague who nurtures professional growth in a mentee by sharing their knowledge and insights and supporting the mentee in their professional learning and growth.

“I’d love to be a mentee to receive one-on-one support for my professional learning and growth, but I don’t know what I’d talk about with my mentor.”

We provide lots of examples to get you thinking! Perhaps you would like to develop a goal around improving your assessment procedures or receive specific feedback on how to more strongly align warm-up routines to the standards. Or maybe you want to revamp your student orientation or streamline your student registration process. Maybe you want to establish more efficient workflow practices to maximize the little time you have to get everything done. Really, the list of options is practically endless!

Intrigued?!

To find out more information about this opportunity and to apply, download the application from the Applications page on the ATLAS website, under the Cohorts & Study Circles heading. Also, please distribute this promotional flier to colleagues and staff. Spread the word!

One final note

This is just the beginning! We plan to utilize the feedback from this pilot to tweak and strengthen the Statewide Mentorship Experience. We anticipate offering three separate entry points into the Statewide Mentorship Experience in FY25. Stay tuned! (And go apply for the pilot!)

Originally published 7/10/23