Growing Great Teachers Through Mentorship

Growing Great Teachers: How Mentorship Blossoms in the Spring

 

As the school year winds down and the excitement of spring is in the air, a quieter transformation is taking place within early childhood settings ... teachers are growing. Throughout the months together, it's not only children that learn, stretch, and explore, but educators too! This can be especially true for those who are new to the profession or stepping into new roles. Spring is more than a season of growth for nature; it’s a time of renewal, reflection, and mentorship in the world of education.

 

In May, many programs are hiring for the new year, educators are reflecting on the year behind them, and the seeds of next year’s success are being quietly sown. This makes it the perfect time to spotlight the powerful role of mentorship. Mentoring is essential for fostering a collaborative, ethical, and growth-oriented professional culture.

 

Let’s explore how programs can intentionally cultivate mentoring relationships that blossom this spring—and continue bearing fruit in the seasons ahead.

 

Creating Space for Peer Learning and Storytelling

 

Mentorship is less about giving advice and more focused on creating space for shared reflection and storytelling. The best mentors are insightful, attuned listeners. And they recognize the value of peer-to-peer learning, where both mentor and mentee bring experiences, perspectives, and passions to the table.

 

Set aside time for intentional storytelling. Whether in team meetings, reflection journals, or informal chats, ask mentors to share stories from their early teaching days, including challenges they overcame and what they learned along the way. Invite mentees to share their own reflections, too! What surprised them this year? What are they proud of? Where do they have curiosities? Storytelling builds connections and helps new educators feel seen, heard, and supported.

 

Reflective Questions Mentors Can Use to Support Growth

 

Great mentoring begins with great questions. In the spirit of spring reflection, mentors can guide mentees through the process of growth by asking questions that spark insight and curiosity.

 

Here are a few reflective prompts mentors might try:

 

1. What was a moment this year that made you feel truly confident as a teacher?

 

1. When did you feel most connected to your students? Least connected?

 

1. What routines or strategies worked well for you—and why?

 

1. What’s one challenge you’d like to approach differently next year?

 

1. How has your view of teaching changed since the fall?

 

These questions aren’t about evaluation, rather they invite reflection and encourage educators to pause, take stock, and envision their continued growth.

 

Tips for Pairing Educators Effectively

 

Successful mentoring partnerships rarely happen by chance. Programs that want to support meaningful growth need to be thoughtful about how they pair mentors and mentees.

 

Here are some tips for effective pairing:

 

1. Complement strengths: Pair a mentor who is strong in classroom management with a mentee who wants support in that area, or match someone experienced in play-based learning with a newer educator curious about implementing it.

 

1. Consider communication styles: Some people thrive with structured check-ins, while others prefer informal conversations. When possible, pair individuals who are compatible in how they like to communicate and give feedback.

 

1. Support cultural responsiveness: Representation matters. If possible, pair mentors and mentees who share similar lived experiences—or who are open to learning from and with each other across differences.

 

1. Provide time: Even the best-matched pairs need time. Build protected time into the schedule for mentoring conversations, co-planning, or classroom observations.

 

When pairings are thoughtful and intentional, mentorship becomes embedded in a program’s culture.

 

Recognizing and Celebrating Mentor-Mentee Partnerships

 

As the school year ends, it’s the perfect moment to recognize and celebrate the educators who have invested in each other’s growth. After all, mentorship is a generous act. It requires time, vulnerability, and a belief in the potential of others.

 

Here are a few ways programs can shine a light on these partnerships:

 

1. Host a spring celebration where mentor-mentee pairs share highlights or lessons learned.

 

1. Create a bulletin board or newsletter showcasing mentor quotes, mentee shout-outs, or snapshots of collaborative moments.

 

1. Ask mentors and mentees to write reflection letters to one another—these can be deeply meaningful keepsakes and affirmations of growth.

 

Celebration not only honors the work already done, it inspires others to step into mentorship roles in the future.

 

Looking Ahead: Planting Seeds for Fall

 

As we lean into these final weeks of the school year, keep in mind that mentorship isn’t just about supporting someone through a single season. It’s about planting seeds that will flourish next year and beyond. Encouraging reflective conversations, supporting thoughtful pairings, and celebrating the growth of all educators helps create a thriving culture of professionalism, leadership, and lifelong learning. That’s how we grow great teachers!

 

Resources

 

Coaching and Mentoring – Building Bridges to Best Practice (Penn State’s Better Kid Care)

 

Mentorship: An Innovative and Responsive Approach to Professional Learning (Lindsay Web, Exchange Everyday)

 

 

 

Christine Murray is an Early Childhood Education Specialist with Becker’s Education Team.
As an educator, coach and leader, Christine is inspired by the curiosity, joy and wonder that children so generously model for us. She earned her M.A. in Innovative Early Childhood Education at the University of Colorado Denver and loves collaborating with and supporting others in the field. Grounded in relationships and guided by empathy, Christine is always learning, connecting and creating.