THE MENTORSHIP INITIATIVE
The Mentorship Initiative seeks to assist novice teachers in navigating the “learning curve” inherent in launching their career in education. Experiences in the early years are pivotal in arriving at decisions whether or not to pursue a career in education. As such, this initiative is intended for teachers in the first three years of their teaching career.
Who better to guide them than experienced teachers who are willing to lend an ear, ask questions, offer suggestions and identify pitfalls, all in the name of making yet another contribution to the career to which they have devoted much of their working lives… retired teachers?
THE OBJECTIVES
- To improve retention by providing high quality individualized support for teachers in the first three years of their teaching careers.
- To facilitate recruitment by making a career in education more attractive through increased support available to novice teachers.
- To create opportunities for professional growth, development, and leadership.
- To provide personal and professional support for early career teachers in their first years of teaching.
Corinne Johnston, French Immersion Teacher
Mentorship is a relationship between two people for the purpose of passing on knowledge and information, sharing wisdom and experience and offering advice and help in a safe space and confidential manner
About Teach in French – Give the Gift of Language and Culture
The promotion of the cognitive, cultural, economic and employment benefits of learning French as a Second Language (FSL) has contributed to the rising enrolment in FSL programs. As a common roadblock to expanding FSL programming in local school boards and communities is the lack of supply of qualified FSL teachers.
Canadian Parents for French (CPF) has long monitored the situation and struggles of school districts/boards across the country in maintaining a sufficient supply of qualified French as a second language (FSL) teachers to respond to the continually increasing demand for French immersion programs as well as more core French and intensive French program options. Together with other branches, CPF has launched several awareness campaigns to attract students to consider a career as French teachers including this one: Teach in French – Give the Gift of Language and Culture.
As part of this awareness campaign, the Mentorship Initiative is created to support novice teachers to overcome some first-year difficulties.
FAQs
- Volunteering is all about making a contribution; this initiative represents an opportunity to make a significant difference in the life and career choices of young educators.
- Ultimately, it is students who benefit the most.
- Flexible parameters are set on a mutually-agreed basis, including:
- settings: virtual to in-person,
- session frequency, duration and scheduling,
- means of communication
- Mentors receive a resource package from which they can draw inspiration.
As a mentor, you would:
- create an atmosphere of trust which ensures confidentiality and fosters psychological safety,
- listen and provide constructive feedback,
- share relevant experiences, and
- offer avenues for reflection and personal growth.
October to the end of May
- Participants may choose to extend the relationship on an independent basis.
Register using the link below:
Still have questions?
Contact Alexandra, the initiative coordinator
adenommee@cpfmb.com