Thing 11: Mentoring

I love that this was included in our list of 23 things. It really gave me a chance to reflect on my mentors and how wonderful they (almost all) were! In New York State, new teachers and new employees are required to have a mentor. I have really been lucky in that both of my formal mentors have been fantastic, enthusiastic, smart educators. My first mentor was actually a classroom teacher because there was no other librarian who was easily accessible in that district. It worked out beautifully since it was my first full-time school library job, so having someone with formidable classroom and time management skills was extremely helpful. (This is an incredibly hyperbolic post - I know!) My first mentor taught me how to get involved in the school community, and the best ways to reach classroom teachers for collaborative projects. Having a classroom teacher as a mentor was actually much more helpful than I thought it would be.
My second, and current, mentor is a school librarian in the same district, and she is wonderful. She's easy to talk to, full of good ideas, and our feelings on best practices are nearly identical. She has been invaluable when it has come to learning the political ropes of my district - which isn't always easy. My current district is much larger than my previous district, so things are done much differently, and she has been my guide. It's been especially helpful to work so closely with another librarian who has the same long-term goals for the library program, too. We both want to update our curriculum and align it to the new AASL and CCS Standards, and we want to increase the visibility of the library program throughout the district as a whole. Having a partner-in-crime makes tackling these projects much easier.
I couldn't write this post, however, without mentioning my most important and longest-standing mentor. It sounds cliche, but I'm talking about my mom. Wait! Before you click to the end of this post, hear me out! My mom is also a school librarian, and while she never once pushed me, she was thrilled when I decided to follow in her footsteps. I just thought it was so cool that my mom got to work with science, social studies, literature, current events, and technology on a daily basis! I wanted to be learning all the time, and I wanted an endless supply of literature at my fingertips. I wanted to be on the cutting edge of technology and education. Once I made the decision to become a school librarian, my mom advised me to get my Bachelor's degree in education, which was a huge benefit later on (see Thing 10). All the way through, she helped me understand issues facing both education and librarianship. She helped me plan lessons, and calmed my nerves when it came time to do student teaching. She helped me buy my first suit for my first job interview. She cheers me on when I come up with new ideas, and talks me off the edge when something frustrates me. Most importantly, she informed my educational philosophy, and has been the perfect role model for who I want to be professionally. Thanks, Mom. :)