On Twitter a week ago Daniel Mikkola posted a tweet that really struck me. He said and I quote, "Being a mentor doesn't mean to be a guru. It means making a connection with someone. Being authentic, being an encourager, and being consistent is what our mentees need. Thank you @sdteaching for your powerful keynote."
It is with great pleasure that I introduce my first guest blogger to the Director's Cut, Mr. Daniel Mikkola. He is a national board certified high school math teacher, photographer, and CTE teacher currently at Sem Yeto High School!!
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Thank you Kristen Witt for the introduction and for allowing me to guest blog with you.
What makes a mentor? In the words of Oprah Winfrey, “A mentor is someone who allows you
to see the hope inside yourself.” Last weekend, I had the opportunity to attend an EdTech
Summit and keynote speaker, Eric Cross, spoke on mentorship. He described growing up
without a father and credits the teachers that mentored him for his success. He detailed the
qualities of these Teacher-Mentors: they were authentic, they encouraged him, and they were
consistent. A mentor doesn’t have to be a guru or even an expert. During his keynote, I was
reminded of my own Teacher-Mentors that I credit for my success.
to see the hope inside yourself.” Last weekend, I had the opportunity to attend an EdTech
Summit and keynote speaker, Eric Cross, spoke on mentorship. He described growing up
without a father and credits the teachers that mentored him for his success. He detailed the
qualities of these Teacher-Mentors: they were authentic, they encouraged him, and they were
consistent. A mentor doesn’t have to be a guru or even an expert. During his keynote, I was
reminded of my own Teacher-Mentors that I credit for my success.
I had the privilege of having both parents while growing up. That is, until high school when we
went through an ugly, drawn-out separation and then a divorce lasting from my Freshman to my
Junior year. Both of my parents are high school graduates who took a class at a community
college but lacked the motivation to finish. They never really talked to me about what
possibilities to explore after high school. My dad provided for us while they were married and
then provided for me after the divorce. He drove the 18-wheelers delivering groceries and he
knew that he wanted better for me, but didn't know how to advise me. Those conversations
came from teachers and projects that I took part in at Armijo High School. I was an AFJROTC
student and college was addressed there; we compared what it would look like going in the
military as enlisted or as a commissioned officer, thank you Major Kardach and Chief McGray. I
remember in my computer class with Mr. Kiesling, we did a project of where we would be in 10
years and how/what we would have to do to get there. In English 9 with Ms. Lyerla, we talked
about what we will be doing 5 years after high school. There was also a College/career class
taught by Mr. Walcott, offered through the business department that I took my 10th-grade year
where we looked at some possible opportunities for life after high school. I remember Mr.
Aronsen, in Chemistry as a Junior, talked about having more opportunities after going to college
than if we took a job straight out of high school. These teachers “mentored” me and provoked
me to imagine my future and what it would look like after high school.
went through an ugly, drawn-out separation and then a divorce lasting from my Freshman to my
Junior year. Both of my parents are high school graduates who took a class at a community
college but lacked the motivation to finish. They never really talked to me about what
possibilities to explore after high school. My dad provided for us while they were married and
then provided for me after the divorce. He drove the 18-wheelers delivering groceries and he
knew that he wanted better for me, but didn't know how to advise me. Those conversations
came from teachers and projects that I took part in at Armijo High School. I was an AFJROTC
student and college was addressed there; we compared what it would look like going in the
military as enlisted or as a commissioned officer, thank you Major Kardach and Chief McGray. I
remember in my computer class with Mr. Kiesling, we did a project of where we would be in 10
years and how/what we would have to do to get there. In English 9 with Ms. Lyerla, we talked
about what we will be doing 5 years after high school. There was also a College/career class
taught by Mr. Walcott, offered through the business department that I took my 10th-grade year
where we looked at some possible opportunities for life after high school. I remember Mr.
Aronsen, in Chemistry as a Junior, talked about having more opportunities after going to college
than if we took a job straight out of high school. These teachers “mentored” me and provoked
me to imagine my future and what it would look like after high school.
At the time I started high school my grades were great - I had a 3.83 with a B in PE; I had
missed out on a few dress out days. Going through the trying times at home and the long drawn
divorce, my grades plummeted to just below a 2.5. I had another mentor, Steve Allmer, who
spoke words of wisdom to me when I needed it. He was a youth leader at our church and knew
my family situation. His words still stick to me to this day and I pass that along with my students.
He said, “I know what you are going through. And it sucks. But you need to keep your grades
up, because this problem is temporary but your grades will stick with you.” I tell my students the
same thing and share my experience with them - to help them focus or shift their focus.
missed out on a few dress out days. Going through the trying times at home and the long drawn
divorce, my grades plummeted to just below a 2.5. I had another mentor, Steve Allmer, who
spoke words of wisdom to me when I needed it. He was a youth leader at our church and knew
my family situation. His words still stick to me to this day and I pass that along with my students.
He said, “I know what you are going through. And it sucks. But you need to keep your grades
up, because this problem is temporary but your grades will stick with you.” I tell my students the
same thing and share my experience with them - to help them focus or shift their focus.
You might be thinking, “What are some ways that I can help mentor someone?” Here are a few
suggestions: With your students you can ask them what they think they will be doing after high
school? You can talk about some colleges that might offer something that they may be
interested in. You can also help them develop a resume that helps give them a more
competitive edge than someone else that may be applying for that job. Having talks about
budgeting or other things that you have encountered in life that they may have not had the
chance to encounter yet.
suggestions: With your students you can ask them what they think they will be doing after high
school? You can talk about some colleges that might offer something that they may be
interested in. You can also help them develop a resume that helps give them a more
competitive edge than someone else that may be applying for that job. Having talks about
budgeting or other things that you have encountered in life that they may have not had the
chance to encounter yet.
Peer-to-peer mentorship is important too. You can help a teacher with district tech apps like
Aeries, Illuminate, etc. You can help them with classroom management strategies or lesson
planning.
Aeries, Illuminate, etc. You can help them with classroom management strategies or lesson
planning.
What are the benefits of being a mentor or a mentee? According to Aston University:
Benefits of being a Mentee
- Gain practical advice, encouragement and support
- Learn from the experiences of others
- Increase your social and academic confidence
- Become more empowered to make decisions
- Develop your communication, study and personal skills
- Develop strategies for dealing with both personal and academic issues
- Identify goals and establish a sense of direction
- Gain valuable insight into the next stage of your career
- Make new friends
- Improve communication and personal skills
- Develop leadership and management qualities
- Reinforce your own study skills and knowledge of your subject(s)
- Increase your confidence and motivation
- Engage in a volunteering opportunity, valued by employers
- Increase your circle of friends
- Gain recognition for your skills and experience
- Benefit from a sense of fulfillment and personal growth
With all of these benefits to mentorship it should come as no surprise the impact it has on our
students and each other.
I challenge you:
students and each other.
I challenge you:
Teachers: Find another teacher who wants knowledge and wisdom that you have and share it
with them. Encourage your students to look to the future; guide their imaginings with your lived
experience and wisdom.
with them. Encourage your students to look to the future; guide their imaginings with your lived
experience and wisdom.
Administrators: Foster teacher leaders on your campus. Encourage teachers to step up and take
the lead. Embolden them to take on projects, speak their minds, share their practices, and lead
committees. Connect and build mentoring relationships with Tier 2 and 3 students on your
campus; don’t forget that your mentorship can make huge impacts on students’ lives.
the lead. Embolden them to take on projects, speak their minds, share their practices, and lead
committees. Connect and build mentoring relationships with Tier 2 and 3 students on your
campus; don’t forget that your mentorship can make huge impacts on students’ lives.
“Mentoring brings us together - across generation, class, and often race - in a manner
that forces us to acknowledge our interdependence, to appreciate, in Martin Luther King,
Jr.'s words, that 'we are caught in an inescapable network of mutuality, tied to a single
garment of destiny.' In this way, mentoring enables us to participate in the essential but
unfinished drama of reinventing community, while reaffirming that there is an important
role for each of us in it.” -Marc Freedman
that forces us to acknowledge our interdependence, to appreciate, in Martin Luther King,
Jr.'s words, that 'we are caught in an inescapable network of mutuality, tied to a single
garment of destiny.' In this way, mentoring enables us to participate in the essential but
unfinished drama of reinventing community, while reaffirming that there is an important
role for each of us in it.” -Marc Freedman
