McELVEY — District teachers hone skills with new program

The following is a column by school Trustee Cara McElvey.

COLUMN — The mark of a good educator is one who continuously learns and improves his or her own skills.

We know teachers are a wealth of information – the go-to people for guidance on assignments, problems in the classroom, help with editing and even advice. The role they play makes it easy for us to forget they are learners who benefit from mentors.

With the introduction of the Teacher Mentorship Program in School District 73, educators from numerous schools have the opportunity to improve their skills under the tutelage of a mentor – a fellow teacher in the community.

Developed by the B.C. Superintendent’s Association, the Ministry of Education and the B.C. Teachers’ Federation, the teacher mentorship program was piloted last year in Kamloops, Haida Gwaii and Columbia Kootenay districts. The pilot year was a success, and Kamloops will continue the program until its review later this calendar year.

Those who want to participate, as both mentors and mentees, fill in an application outlining their skill sets. Teachers who are looking for more experience in certain areas have the opportunity to highlight the areas they would like to improve. Mentorship topics may range from communicating with parents, First Nations relations and student assessment, to developing new teaching techniques or adapting to a new grade level. Some teachers want mentorship because they are new to the district or even new to the teaching profession.

Program mentors submit a similar application outlining their strengths. Once applications are received, the district reviews and matches a mentor with experience in an area to a teacher with specific requirements.

Funding is available for up to 20 pairs of mentors and teachers. The majority of funds are used to support teachers’ release time – up to four days throughout the year. Remaining funds are allocated to advise rural teachers.

Each participating district has its own committee and approach to the project. For School District 73, the Kamloops/Thompson mentorship committee has done a remarkable job of pairing teachers and guiding them through facilitation of the program. The committee provides training and group gatherings three times per year.

As with any occupation, there are times when people can feel overwhelmed. For both mentors and teachers, the program has served as a form of support and encouragement during good times and bad.

More importantly, through discussion and education, the program reminds participants of the reasons why they chose their profession in the first place. With a reignited spark, a sturdy support system, and fresh ideas – teachers are refining their skills to support career growth to the benefit of students in their classrooms.

Trustee columns will be published here on a regular basis in the coming months.