Aileen Donnersberger
Moraine Valley College
Instructor, Education
The General Concept of the Mentor:
Education is a truly rewarding profession and a profession that allows for continuous learning. Formal education begins for most of us as students - children sitting at the desk waiting for knowledge and understanding to be taught to us by our teachers. The process of learning develops over time aided by each teacher who stands in front of the classroom. As the personal choice to become a teacher becomes obvious, we then make the transition from behind the desk to the front of the class. We all have taken the required education courses and lived through the student-teaching experiences that are designed to prepare us for our time to be the teacher. We may have the book knowledge to teach, but how do we spin all the webs of information that we have learned into successful teaching? How do we make learning meaningful? How do we know we are teaching the "right" way? These questions have been asked by many new teachers, myself included. To whom do we turn for help? Who can offer advice without judgment? Who can help us with lesson planning and testing? Who can assist us to be the best teachers that we can and want to be? The questions may be difficult but the answer is an easy one - your mentor. A mentor is a teacher who has shared similar experiences. A mentor is someone who is there to help answer our questions and to assist us in teaching during our first years and beyond.
My Personal Experience:
My choice to be a teacher was an easy one. As a child, grandchild, and niece of teachers, I knew that I, one day, would also like to become a teacher. I knew as a little girl playing "Go to the Head of the Class" that teaching was what I wanted as my future profession. I knew that I had the support of my family and my professors to become a great teacher.
I knew that I had the required preparation to teach, but on the eve of my first day of school as the teacher, I was nothing less than petrified. How was I going to control 32 eighth-graders? Would they like me? Would I be too strict? Would I hold the interest of the students? Would I be a good teacher? These are some of the questions that were floating in and out of my mind as I lay awake waiting for morning to arrive.
I awoke early on that first day after a restless night and began my now-routine, first-day-of-school pep talk to myself. I still had the questions but did not yet posses the answers. I realized that relief was in sight. I had just caught a glimpse of my mentor preparing for her first day of school as well. Relief washed over me. Why had I worried? I knew in an instant I would have all my questions answered.
As I turned to ask my mentor the first of many questions, she turned to me with a smile and said, "You look so great. What a cute sweater. You are going to be a wonderful teacher. The students will love you. I bet they are just as excited to meet you as you must be to meet them." With a few kind words and loving encouragement my fears were quickly lifted. I would be OK. I would be a success. I would be a good teacher. Oh, how much those words meant to me.
I left for school, feeling confident, I was excited and just a little nervous. The classroom smelled liked cleaning supplies. The students' desks, books, and lockers were in order. My desk, because I had organized it the day before, was tidy. I anxiously waited for the bell to ring and for the students to enter my classroom. With a smile on my face and a knot in my stomach, I greeted each student with a welcoming, "Good Morning." The day began. Excitement coursed through my body as seats were assigned, books were passed out, and attendance was taken. The events of the day sped by and soon the dismissal bell was ringing. Was it really time to go? How could the first day really be over? It went so well.
I had many days that did not go as well or as fast. I had many days where I had questions about control, questions about lessons, and questions about parent communications. Whenever I had a question, I turned to my mentor for help. My mentor always had an answer, always knew what to do, always had a clever lesson or plan, always had a word of encouragement, always was there to support and encourage me. When she felt I needed to be pushed, she gave the gentle push. When she felt I could do more to expand an objective or goal, she would be there with sample lessons and ideas to incorporate into my plan. When I didn't know how to handle a control problem, my mentor offered suggestions and reminded me that I knew the situation and the students and I had the information to solve the problems. I was the teacher.
That first day is some years ago, but many of the lessons I learned that first year have stayed with me each year of teaching. I have been fortunate enough to teach in grade school, junior high, high school, and university. Presently, I teach as an Instructor of Education at a community college. Through every job and experience my mentor has been there coaching, cheering, guiding, advising, and teaching.
My mentor has over 40 years of teaching experience. As a young college graduate she taught high school biology; she eventually moved from high school teaching to the community college and university levels. She taught for 34 years as an Anatomy and Physiology Professor, Education Professor, and Coordinator of Education Programs. For over 17 years she has been and continues to be a mentor and supervisor of student teachers and new teachers. She has mentored thousands of students and new teachers over her lifetime. Every student that she has mentored has experienced her unending supply of energy and knowledge and her continued dedication to the profession of teaching and students.
I am lucky to have this mentor continue her support of my education and career. I can never truly thank my mentor for all that she has allowed me to accomplish as a teacher. I can only hope that all my students will be successful teachers who will never stop looking for ways to be creative and inspiring in their classrooms. Perhaps, some day, they too can become successful mentors to other new teachers.
I would like to take this time to say thank you to my mentor and my inspiration - my mother, Dr. Anne B. Donnersberger. Thanks, mom.
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