The Student/Mentee
Would you like to have a mentor? Do you believe that you will encounter situations that a mentor could provide insight? Do you trust the opinion of others or do you believe that only you can provide solutions which will lead to a successful resolution of your perceived problems? Do you enjoy having the opportunity to choose solutions to a situation, whether they be yours or those of someone else? These are some of the questions that will determine whether or not you would like to have a mentor.
As a prospective teacher you will encounter untold numbers of situations in which you must make a decision, and the decision you make perhaps on only one of the problems will make a direct contribution to the degree of success which you will have as an educator.
Most successful professionals have had someone that they credit as having made a contribution which is directly responsible for much of their career success. A mentor from this program could be the person responsible for making a suggestion that you used which ultimately defined the path for you to become a very successful teacher.
The mentee is responsible with the mentor to make certain that communications is on-going. Communications can be by phone, letters, e-mail or regularly meeting each other for lunch or just to meet to talk. The most direct contact, whether it be face-to-face contact, phone, e-mail, or by mail, the more each participant will be able to determine each other’s talents, traits, opinions, or tendencies.
If you choose to work with a mentor you must meet these responsibilities:
- Initiate and maintain regular communications with the mentor;
- Be punctual when meeting the mentor;
- Must be open and honest about your needs;
- Must realize that mentors are providing alternative suggestions to the discussion, the mentee must select from suggestions offered he/she believes is the suggestion best suited for the situation;
- Must communicate your expectations;
- Must respect the effort the mentor is making to further your career.
Mentoring must be viewed as a partnership. Each party must feel free to contribute to the discussion. The partnership must be a relationship of equal sharing. A healthy relationship can develop not only into a successful sharing of ideas but also a great friendship.
The mentee must be willing to regularly submit an evaluation of their progress and mentor. Questions about the program can be emailed to Student Program Vice Chairperson, Katie Kreis, at kekreis@ilstu.edu
The sign up form must be completed through the IEA website no later than October 3, 2010.
Illinois Education Association is an association of more than 130,000 members composed of Illinois elementary and secondary teachers, higher education faculty and staff, educational support professionals, retired educators and college students preparing to become teachers.
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