Mentoring

Mentoring is an essential component of career development, and it can improve retention rates, facilitate succession planning, and provide opportunities for professional and personal growth. Whether new to education, new to a district or school, or having changed content area or role, mentoring can support each educator’s unique journey in their career. Explore this section to learn how to create integrated support systems for both new and experienced educators.

Ohio’s Mentor Program Opportunities

The Ohio Department of Education and Workforce and other professional organizations offer a variety of opportunities for educators to serve as a mentor and to seek support as a mentee. Check with local- and state-level professional organizations to find existing opportunities in addition to those highlighted below.

• Resident Educator Program: Assists beginning teachers with mentoring and professional development and provides opportunities for experienced educators to give ongoing instructional support.

• Beginning Administrator Mentorship (BAM) Program: Assigned mentors work with new administrators for two full years, providing guidance and coaching on many different aspects of their role, including instructional leadership, OTES and OPES evaluations, and how to manage personnel.

  • OAESA’s contact page for PreK-8 administrators

  • OASSA’s contact page for 5-12 administrators

• New Superintendent Transition & Superintendent Executive Coaching: Assists educators assuming the superintendency for the first time and pairs superintendents who are new to the position or new to the state with experienced Ohio superintendents to offer support and guidance.

• Mentoring for School Business Officials: Open to new and experienced Business Managers, Food Service Supervisor/Directors, Treasurers, and Transportation Supervisor/Directors to serve as mentors and protégés.