Why YOU should be a mentor!

Mentoring often occurs organically once a new school leader enters your building or district. You take them under your wing, you help them through the paperwork, you’re the listening ear that they need. It’s a friendship that forms and often lasts for years.

But have you considered reaching out and mentoring ASPIRING school leaders? Guiding them and encouraging them prior to them entering the field? You MUST! Here’s why:

• Aspiring School Leaders learn pedagogy and theory in leadership programs. It’s YOU as practicing school leaders that can share with them the day to day “real life” of a administrator.
• Remember your first year? Wish you knew something more prior to going in? Now’s your time to give back and help others!
• You know what you’re looking for in a fellow administrator. Share this so the TOP candidates are out looking for jobs. GROW our profession.
• Think of a person who has made a huge impact on you - now pay that forward.
• It’s such a HUGE gift to give that takes little time each month. Make a phone call, Vox, do a Google Hangout, email. Relationships matter and help mentees tremendously!

Mentoring is a small thing that adds up to BIG rewards to a future leader. Are you ready? Do you support building greatness for our students by bringing top leaders into schools? Can you commit to having this authentic, helping relationship for the next ten months? No set times, you and your protege decide what works best for you.

We have a cohort of aspiring leaders ready for you! We are in need of leaders in ALL areas!!

--- Not ready to mentor, but still feel you have something to offer --- 

We also host short webinars for these aspiring leaders. If you would be interested in sharing your experience this way we would also appreciate your support.  Sign up or suggest your area of expertise!

Mentoring does change lives! Sign up here -- http://bit.ly/AspiringLeadersMentor18

This is the second year of our amazing support program -- check out what we did in year one: www.dreambigmentorship.com

Aspiring Leaders Cohort 2018 - 2019

Are you an Aspiring School Leader? Are you following the #NAESP and the #NCP conference through social media and thinking “that will be me someday?” Then THIS cohort is for you!

According to the National Association of Secondary School Principals, “the demand for elementary, middle and high school principals will grow 6 percent nationwide” over the next four years. 

Do you feel prepared? Having a mentor at any stage of your career is so beneficial, but often doesn't happen after student teaching, unless people personally seek a mentor out. Time constraints and location can often prevent strong mentoring relationships from being formed.

Today, online relationships are often how we connect for personal growth and learning - edchats, blogs, webinars and personal PLNs --- strong mentoring relationships can also be built through these same digital means!

There are SO many great leaders across the United States that are willing to reach out and support the next generation of school leaders! Our goal is to support aspiring leaders through a series of webinars held by some of these inspiring top leaders.

Webinar topics include:

• Interviewing tips
• The “behind the scenes” of administration
• Tech tools and tips for growth
• Work/Life Balance
• Resume / Cover Letter Building

In addition to the FREE webinars, we want to match experienced leaders up with future leaders in mentoring relationships. We have personally experienced and know the value of mentorship and know it doesn't have to occur face-to-face. Tools such as Voxer, Google Hangouts, etc will be utilized to make these unique relationships happen.

Could you use the support? Know someone who could?

Even if you are thinking about only watching the webinars, please take a few minutes to register below. This will help us see what webinar topics would be most helpful to you as an aspiring leader.
http://bit.ly/AspiringLeadersMentee18

Still not sure? Check out what we did last year - www.dreambigmentorship.com. Almost half of the active participants in the cohort landed admin roles this year!!!

ARE YOU ALREADY A SCHOOL LEADER????? Sound like giving back and helping others? Join us -- YOU are exactly what we need to make the program successful!

Sign up today to be a mentor or a webinar host.

http://bit.ly/AspiringLeadersMentor18\

The Power of Collaboration: Connections and Reflections

In the fall four educators came together to form a small book study group.  We all were connected to another person in some way. We chose the classic How to Win Friends and Influence People by Dale Carnegie and used Voxer as our communication platform.  We hope you enjoy our story of learning together.

By: Paul Bailey, Tamara Bonhotel, Holly Griffin & Jodie Pierpoint

Reflection of How to Win Friends and Influence People by Dale Carnegie-

I have absolutely loved reading Carnegie’s book.  When I shared with some friends that I would be reading it, I heard the same thing over and over: you will love this book.  And, they were right. At first, I thought his suggestions were obvious and simple, but when I really thought about how they could connect to the world of education, they didn’t seem so obvious and simple anymore.  So far, each principle is applicable to almost everything I do daily in my current position, and I enjoy getting an opportunity to test them out.

Holly Griffin

This was a book I had heard about, but must say was never on my “must read” list. I found after the first chapter that it was enjoyable and offered great insight on better ways to communicate with others. Although sometimes I found myself thinking, “this is common knowledge” I found that in reflection I could handle situations differently to get better responses.

Tamara Bonhotel

Thoughts on being part of a virtual book study -

After participating and leading several virtual book studies, I was eager to start this book.  Our group was small, but I truly believe that this allowed us to reflect and share deeper, more personal stories and reflections. I felt a connection to the members of our group and felt more comfortable sharing thoughts and opinions.  I think that it is so important as educators to continue to read and grow. This format allows us that opportunity - and is a great way to meet others outside your local community/PLC.

Jodie Pierpoint

Depending on the length of the chapters, our book chats are usually one to two chapters per week. Participants are asked to post a message about their thoughts of the reading and respond to the messages left by others. Participants leave audio messages on Voxer and the group chats asynchronously. Other participants will listen and respond to the messages when they are able. Using Voxer for book chats allows educators to participate in professional dialogue without constraints of time, geographic location, and commitments.

Paul Bailey

Growing Your PLN -

I have “dabbled” in a variety of educational chats, but I have yet to become a regular on any of them. When I have engaged in a chat, I find when it is over I am energized from the information and the energy of the chat. Through chats, I have grown my PLN and this has expanded my connections so that I have joined Voxer groups which has increased my PLN even moreso. I have been trying to get my fellow colleagues to try out this great “PD in your jammies” idea of Twitter, but I am met with furrowed brows of “that’s just one more thing to learn.”

Tamara Bonhotel

I cannot stress enough the importance of having a PLN to learn and grow with continually.  Joining Twitter was one of the best things I’ve ever done. I have friends now, that even though I have never seen these people face to face, they are people I share stories and experiences with weekly.  They help me grow. They encourage and support me. My PLN has made me a stronger, more confident person. I am grateful, and I encourage others all the time to step out of the borders of the their buildings to learn from the amazing people you find on-line!

Jodie Pierpoint

Why Being Connected Helps you Grow -

I believe we have such a big advantage over educators who preceded us.  The ability to chat with other educators across the country would have never been an option 20 years ago (or 17 when I started).  It’s nice to know that if I have a question or just simply need guidance on an issue, the answer is literally at the tip of my fingers.  Also, I feel that I could serve as a mentor to others, even though I am only a year and a half into my position. I have an advantage that others don’t being in a small school district.  I wear many hats that many of my peers do not, and I think that gives me more experience. Given the opportunity to share with others or mentor will also help me grow as an educator.

Holly Griffin

I always read education related books but found it difficult to have available time to meet other educators for a study. For all us, families and personal well being are a top priority to stay on our ‘A game.’ We also need to lesson plan, reflect, grade, create, and grow professionally. We coach our student-athletes, participate in leadership teams, and attend extracurricular activities.

Paul Bailey

Please let us know if you would be interested in joining

us this summer in our next book chat!