Mentoring (Part 1)

Interviewing students at universities has been one of the benefits of my position as a school administrator. They are young, have fresh new ideas, energetic, they love kids, will work 18 hour days, and they love education. When I interview a prospective teacher candidate, they “pump” me up. They energize me. They encourage me. It shows me that there are still individuals in our society that wish to serve and work in helping educate the youth of America.

One of the trends the past five years in education is mentoring. Mentoring has always been a part of the work place. Mentoring individuals to become even better in business and the work place have often resulted in greater dividends and benefits for companies.

It has also benefited schools. When new teachers are placed with experienced teachers, positive results usually follow. New teachers are given vital survival skills as well as a vast array of knowledge about past experiences, which might have resulted in positive and negative teaching aspects in their classroom. Mentoring also makes the experienced teacher feel needed, revitalized and important. They are able to share their life’s successes with someone new entering the profession.

In the Church, mentoring is such an important aspect of the Christian life. I had some excellent mentors in my younger years. My mom was a great mentor of mine that encouraged me in my Christian life. My youth ministers and elders in the church that took us young people and taught us the importance of service and worship and living Godly lives.

Today I still have mentors. Those individuals that I call on a regular basis to dig deep into their knowledge that they have experienced over many decades of their Christian walk. I appreciate their encouragement but also appreciate their correction from to time as I grow in Gods Word.

Each of us need mentors. We need to be actively involved in the lives of each other. Encouraging and teaching thorough the experiences we have encountered.

Scripture is full of mentoring events and situations.
My next blog will describe some of those mentoring experiences.