The Mentor Minute is designed as a support for lead mentors and mentors in VBCPS. Each month, the newsletter will focus on a key area of support for new teachers with resources and strategies aligned to the focus area. We will also use this space to spotlight the amazing work of mentors across the division.

In this edition:

• Focus: Curiosity
• Supporting New Teachers: Ideas for Check-ins
• What's Happening this Month: Important Dates
• Monthly Mentor Spotlight: Christy Flanagan, SES; Amanda Marcum WTCES; Ashley Karunaratne, PAHS

As we move into February, it's an opportune time to focus on reigniting the spark of curiosity in our new educators and their teaching practices. According to Carol Pelletier Radford's Mentoring in Action, this period is ideal for mentors to guide novice teachers in exploring innovative strategies that enhance both teaching and learning. Consider the following topics of conversation with your mentee.

• Strategies for Meeting the Needs of Diverse Learners: When setting up observations for this semester, some questions to ask your mentee before and/or after may include (p. 166):

• Are they using both auditory and visual directions?
• Are key concepts modeled and demonstrated for students by providing visual examples?
• Is there an opportunity to allow for student choice?
• How is the teacher allowing for different learning paces?
• How are students getting the support they need?
• Monthly Needs Assessment to Differentiate Mentoring Conversations: Tailoring the conversations to meet the needs of your mentee by taking time to celebrate what is going well and where the opportunities for growth may live is another way to check-in. Try giving your mentee this needs assessment to focus your support.
• Looking at Student Work Together: This can support your mentee as they analyze student work. Help them consider what one skill to focus on next with students. Are the skills the new educator is focused on developmentally appropriate for their students? How can focusing on this one skill be a game-changer to maximize learning? Here's a template to get you started (p. 172).

By focusing on these strategies, we can support our mentees in transforming challenges into opportunities for growth, all while nurturing a sense of curiosity that will benefit both their teaching and their students' learning experiences.

Our Resources for Lead Mentors or Mentors drive is available for you to explore. Here's a link to the Table of Contents , and know that it will continue to grow. If you have something you are willing to share that you know is helpful for those you support, I invite you to contribute to this community.

Adapted from Mentoring in Action: Guiding , Sharing, and Reflecting with Novice Teachers. This book is available, along with its companion book, The First Years Matter: Becoming an Effective Teacher, in the VRL.)

There are times when folks are on leave for extended periods of time. People may have surgery, a family matter, or a new addition to the family. Whatever the reason, this does happen, and here are ways to navigate those times.

Be sure to add your support meetings to Frontline as Site-Based Activities. Facilitators and attendees can earn points for these needed and required sessions that support the professional growth of our new educators. Remember a minimum of quarterly meetings is required, and meeting more frequently offers more timely and proactive support.

If you have new mentoring relationships start, a blank roster is linked below for your convenience.

💡This month's spotlight highlights mentors who are guiding new educators through the challenges of the Rejuvenation phase. As new educators enter the Rejuvenation stage, their renewed energy can be harnessed by promoting curiosity—both in their own practice and in their students’ learning. Our spotlight this month is all about mentors who are helping mentees work with small groups to break curriculum into manageable steps, modeling cycles of reflection, reinforcing that growth takes time, intentional efforts lead to success, and a problem-solving mindset fosters both confidence and engagement.

• Christy Flanagan (Salem Elementary School) – She arranges peer observations of small group instruction and collaborates weekly with her mentee, guiding them through challenges and supporting their instructional growth.

• Amanda Marcum (Cooke ES) – She organizes structured goal-setting sessions followed by learning walks and classroom implementation discussions, modeling a cycle of reflection and problem-solving.

• Ashley Karunaratne (Princess Anne High School) – She mentors not only a single teacher but supports all biology teachers, sharing plans and resources to ensure lessons are engaging and well-structured.

To celebrate the great work lead mentors and mentors are doing to support our new teachers, here's an opportunity to nominate someone for recognition. Using this Google form, tell us about a mentor in your building who has a positive impact.

Reach out and let me know. I can model an activity for you, be a discussion partner on how an activity or strategy might work or engage with you in a solution-finding conversation around a dilemma you have.

Contact Karol Bledsoe, Professional Learning Specialist, karol.bledsoe@vbschools.com.