Re-Examining the Benefits and

Challenges of Mentoring
Kathryn Will-Dubyak
Assistant Professor of Literacy Education
Allicia Hilton and Emily Hartford
Teacher Candidates
University of Maine Farmington
 Fall 2016
rienc e in sch oo ls, Kin de rga rte n classrooms @ same school
pe
Block of courses, initial clinical ex
Spring 2017
Kindergarten classrooms
Volunteered 2 or 3 days a week in
Fall 2017
ch ing Assis tan ts in Litera cy Cli nic in After School Program
Tea
Spring 2018
ical experience
Subbed in same site as initial clin
Fall 2018
nic in After School Program
Teaching Assistants in Literacy Cli
d 5th grades, rural school
Second clinical experience, 3rd an
Spring 2019
in 1st an d 2n d gra de s in dif fer ent schools, same district
Student teaching
 What was challenging?
In supervision? In mentoring?
- Boundaries - Boundaries
- Constant assessment - Feedback
- Limited growth - Placement
 Supervision Mentoring

“Defines the role of boss, “Defines the role of

assessor, counselor, and assisting, befriending,
expert.” guiding, advicing,
counseling.”
Mentoring
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Children
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Peers
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Mentor
Teacher
 Where are the lines?
Who supervised? Who mentored? Who did both?

- Field supervisors - Placement - Placement

- Professors teachers teachers
- Academic advisors - Peers - Professors
- Students
- Educators in
placement schools
 What was most helpful?
In supervision? In mentoring?
- Guidance
- Previous knowledge - Strong relationship
- Constant feedback - Collaboration
- One on one discussions - Reflection
- Experience
 Three components of mentorin
g
Relational Developmental Contextual
The relationship How mentors and Cultural and
between mentors mentees develop situational features
and mentees personally and of the setting in
professionally while which mentoring
moving towards takes place
particular goals
 Co
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o le l r uni o r
R de rte ty it at
mo p po cil
Su Fa

Protector Roles tr
a i n er

to
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in
a Asse

Mentoring
r ssor
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Co

Coll Frie
ator eagu
Evalu
ator Communic e nd
Supervision is not enough...
In mentorship both sides
are learning and growing
as educators.
With mentors we are
constantly reflecting and
collaborating. These are
important skills to have
as a teacher.
References

Ambrosetti, A. & Dekkers, J. (2010). The interconnectedness of the Roles of Mentors and Mentees in
the Pre-service Teacher Education Mentoring Relationships. Australian Journal of Teacher
Education, 35(6). http://dx.doi.org/10.14221/ajte.2010v35n6.3