Finding a quality mentor that can support you in your journey toward administration is one of the most important things that you need to do!

So, how do you find one? Follow this process and you will be on your way…

1. In my very first aspiring administrators blog post I highlighted that the first thing you need to do is to tell others about your goals and ambitions. When searching for a mentor, you need to express your interest to a possible mentor “candidate” and see how he/she responds. Gauge body language and engagement to see if this person is going to be the right fit. More often than not, you will already have a relationship with your future mentor and going to this person for advise will seem natural and comfortable. After all, your current administrator might be one of the reasons you are considering a future administrative role.
2. The easiest way to find a mentor is to turn to your current principal or administrator. Having someone onsite that is easily accessible, allows you to go to him/her multiple times throughout the year to ask questions and for guidance. After you have expressed interest in becoming an administrator, if you have found a quality mentor, he/she will begin to provide opportunities for you to grow. It may start small, with leading all the necessary requirements for a field trip or running a professional development session during a faculty meeting, but all of these opportunities will continue to build your skill set and give you experience in a variety of educational contexts. Like many things in life, “practice makes perfect”, and the more you practice the better and more comfortable you will get with administrative tasks and responsibilities. Furthermore, it is extremely important for you to take initiative. With your experience at your current school, you have most likely brainstormed a way or two to enhance and improve the school culture. Bring your ideas to your mentor and together you can find a way to improve an aspect of the school and community.
3. If you do not feel comfortable finding a mentor within your current administration, it is still very important for you to have someone that you can share your ideas with and learn from. In this case, think back to a previous administrator that you admired and respected. Reach out to him/her as someone who might be able to help guide you in finding quality educational materials and encouraging you along the journey. However, it is really important for you to have a mentor that you work with on a daily basis. The real experience is going to come from on-the-job training and you need to find a way to work closely with your administration. Think of it this way, as a future administrator you will sometimes work with difficult people and it will not always be easy. Especially during these difficult times, you will need to find a way to make it work for the betterment of the students and the school.
4. Once you have found a mentor you need to be willing to learn from him/her, take the constructive criticism, and improve yourself as an educator. If you have found a quality mentor, he/she will be willing to point out when mistakes have been made as well as provide encouragement and praise for a job well done. If you always remember that you will make mistakes and that the most important learning comes through your mistakes, you will be well on your way to moving forward and making a difference in the lives of our students from a different perspective…as an administrator!