One of the articles in the January newsletter addresses the role of mentors in engaging and guiding new ECE educational professionals. Another explores the lesser considered benefits of mentoring to the mentor (as opposed to the more commonly understood benefits to the mentee). The mentoring of new ECE professionals by experienced educators leads to the professional development of both groups of teachers and helps to alleviate some of the pressures of staffing shortages in ECE by both supporting and engaging new teachers in their roles.
But consider a mentoring avenue that could begin before educational professionals enter the field: the mentoring of future educators.
Being an adolescent may be harder today than it has ever been. The added pressures that come with social media, the climbing costs of higher education, and the increasing divides between different groups in American society make the job of navigating adolescence and high school a challenge for many students.
On the other hand, young people who experience a mentoring relationship outside of their parents have been shown to benefit in many ways, including:
- Increased high school graduation rates
- Lower high school dropout rates
- Healthier relationships and lifestyle choices
- Better attitude about school
- Higher college enrollment rates and higher educational aspirations
- Enhanced self-esteem and self-confidence
- Improved behavior, both at home and at school
- Stronger relationships with parents, teachers, and peers
- Improved interpersonal skills
Benefits of Mentoring for Young People | Youth.gov
ECE professionals, both new and experienced, have the chance to make that kind of difference in the lives of the young people in their community. By providing an opportunity for students who are interested in a career in early childhood education and care a chance to connect with current ECE professionals, those professionals can not only be that difference maker in a young person’s life, but also reap the following benefits:
- Foster the interest of passionate young people looking to enter the field of ECE, possibly helping to further alleviate the staffing shortage currently facing the industry.
- Further their own professional development by acting as leaders and guides to a different set of children than they see in their learning environment each day.
- Gain new insights on their students, what they teach, and the interaction between the two from people with the unique perspective of those standing with one foot each in childhood and adulthood.
If you have an interest in acting as a mentor to future ECE educators, here are some suggestions on how to get started:
- Reach out to your local high school to see if they already have a professional mentorship program in place.
- Contact the community education department or public library in your area to see if they have established mentorship opportunities available.
- Talk to the administrator at your center about starting a mentorship program. Student mentees can also, with guidance, serve as volunteers in the learning environment, reading to and interacting with your young charges.