Mentor program praised by area teachers

Ken Johnston
Editor

Members of the Rainy River District School Board (RRDSB) learned a thing or two at their regular monthly meeting in Rainy River Tuesday.
Kendall Olsen, Chair of the board’s Mentor and Induction Committee (MIC), spoke very highly of the program that involves teaming an experienced teacher with a new teacher. A huge success in Olsen’s eyes, the guidance from the mentor appears to have had a positive impact on a number of new teachers.
Ray Koprowski, who worked with two mentors, could not sing the program’s praises enough. “They are more than a mentor, they are a friend.” Koprowski noted that there have been several occasions where he just was not sure he could get through a situation. “One day I told Jean (Hiebert), my mentor at Huffman, that I was tired and was not sure I would be able to get everything ready for the next day. She listened and then reassured me telling me to break it down.”
Koprowski said the mentors also listen to first year teachers and allow them a say at the table. “It feels good to know that despite their years of experience they are willing to listen to my ideas. The program is fantastic. It made my first year of teaching an amazing experience.”
Olsen noted that last year the program went beyond simply supporting new teachers. “We broke down into teams and looked at different areas in the district’s public schools.
Riverview kindergarten teacher, Charlene Brubacher, explained that her team of kindergarten teachers looked at play in the classroom. “It was good to meet with other teachers doing the same thing.” She explained that they took their experiences and made changes together by comparing notes.
Technology in the classroom, improving school and home relations and boys learning styles were also looked at by the teams.
Olsen noted that MIC looked at the big picture, not only focusing on the new teachers and improving classroom experiences for them and students, but also at how to improve the abilities of the mentors. “We sent mentors to Calgary for training and I travelled to Minneapolis for training as well.”
Olsen said MIC hopes to expand the program from a one year experience to two years. In the mean time they have also developed a new Teacher Mentor Manual. “They all get a big fat binder that most end up collecting dust. We hope this new manual will be easier to use. The jury is out on whether it will or not, we will see at the end of the year.”
MIC also has a program brochure being printed. They use it to promote the program at job fairs.
There are currently 35-40 mentors in the system helping nearly 30 new teachers.
Rainy River board trustee Ron McAlister praised the program saying, “If the enthusiasm from these two young teachers is the same with all, I would say the program is a roaring success.”
Olsen thanked the board for extending funding for the program.
Board chair Dan Belluz said, “With this success, by all means we hope to continue with financing of the program.”
Other business
•The board approved a motion to allow the funding of Best Start expenses with internal funds until provincial funding comes through. They set a cap of $864,000 on the motion. The board has had a very strong indication that the program will move forward and the funding will flow. However, if it suddenly falters, the board can rescind funding it internally at any time.
•The board agreed to transfer up to $150,000 from the classroom reserve fund to supplement the Min. of Education proposal to expand the Achievement Schools Project.
•The RRHS First Responders, a group of students trained in first aid, was recognized by the board.
•Trustee McAlister presented Anne Anderson with a certificate of recognition who accepted on behalf of the board’s custodians and maintenance staff. This is part of the REACH (Recognizing Excellence and Consistent High Quality) program. Each month the board recognizes some aspect of its staff.