Haven’t many of our schools started to feel more like businesses than homes for real learning?…
So, many systems now invest more in flashy buildings than in teacher support… marketing campaigns louder than mentoring programs…
The race for enrollment numbers are faster than the race for better learning outcomes…
When schools start thinking like businesses alone, learners become customers, teachers become workers on a conveyor belt, and growth is measured in fees collected instead of futures shaped. Survival may keep the doors open, but it will never make a school thrive.
So what does thriving look like? One answer is “mentoring”.
And not just a formal program or a checklist item, it’s about people. It’s about one teacher turning to another and saying, “I’ve been there. Let me walk with you.”
Supporting the Human Behind the Teacher
Starting out in a new environment feels overwhelming like building a plane while flying it. A mentor gives new teachers someone to lean on, someone to ask, “Is this normal?” or “What would you do here?” That human connection builds confidence, helps manage stress, and reminds newer teachers they’re not alone.
When teachers feel supported, learners benefit too. A mentored teacher spends less time doubting and more time connecting, which makes lessons lively and learners more engaged.
Many good teachers leave early, not because of the children but because they feel alone. Mentoring helps them stay, love the work, and see a future in teaching.
When mentoring is part of a school’s culture, trust grows. Teachers share more, celebrate more, and even admit mistakes. Everyone benefits; new teachers, experienced ones, and the learners who watch it happen.
Mentors Grow Too
Being a mentor is listening deeply, modelling vulnerability, and sharpening your own practice in the process. It is leadership with heart, and it transforms both the mentor and the mentee.
At Its Core, Mentoring Is Belonging
Mentoring is more than a strategy it’s a declaration of belonging. It tells teachers: You matter. You belong here. We’ve got your back. Let’s grow together.
So, directors and administrators, remember this mentoring isn’t a cost, it’s a foundation. It could be the key that moves your school from just surviving to truly thriving. And in the next articles, we’ll explore more ways schools can thrive.
We need more blogs like this one.
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