Cultivating Excellence: Our Faculty Mentor Program

This school year, after many years as an informal program, we launched a formal Davidson Day Mentor Program. The Mentor Program is a testament to the school's commitment to fostering a supportive work culture and retaining exceptional teachers. Laurissa Ecker-Berkman, Director of Learning Support, and I worked to adapt an existing program from her previous school to meet the unique needs of new teachers at Davidson Day. In this blog, we'll explore the inception, structure, unique aspects, and early feedback of this transformative mentorship program.

The Genesis of the Mentor Program
The Davidson Day Mentor Program was inspired by the desire to enhance job satisfaction among teachers, contributing to a positive work culture and retaining the best talents. The informal mentor program in place when I started at Davidson Day in 2010 was a precursor to this formalized program and laid the groundwork for this more structured initiative. The Culture Committee, instrumental in driving positive changes within the school, spearheaded the development of the program, focusing on acclimating teachers to the unique dynamics and values at Davidson Day.

Research-Informed Development
To develop an effective program, the team researched various mentor programs, both within and beyond the education sector. While many mentor programs predominantly targeted first-year teachers, Davidson Day's vision was broader, encompassing all teachers new to the school, regardless of years of teaching. Research outcomes consistently supported the idea of mentorship, illustrating benefits such as increased teacher effectiveness, higher retention rates, enhanced leadership growth for mentors, improved school culture, and elevated student learning. The insights gained from these studies significantly influenced the creation of the Davidson Day Mentor Program.

Practical Components for Families to Know
In essence, the Davidson Day Mentor Program provides a year-long mentorship for newly hired teachers. Mentor-mentee pairs meet twice a month from August to November and then monthly throughout the remainder of the year. Regular feedback and reflection opportunities are integrated to ensure the program's efficacy, allowing for continuous improvement. The program also contemplates extending mentorship into a second year, tailoring the experience to the needs of mentees and mentors. 

Patrick Letourneau, Upper School mathematics and entrepreneurialism teacher and an inaugural member of the Mentor Program, shared his experience: The program has been extremely helpful! My mentor, Dave Hall, is always available for anything I need. It is very helpful knowing I have that level of support; I can reach out to him with any questions, and he will always help to the best of his ability. Although I have adjusted very quickly to life at Davidson Day, Dave still checks in with me to ensure that everything is going well. Beyond the mentor program, I have supportive colleagues I can turn to for anything.  

While it's still early in the year, initial feedback centers around the new teacher orientation. Striking a balance between providing ample information and preventing overwhelm remains a challenge. The orientation's highlight was a student-teacher panel, offering unique insights into the Davidson Day experience. Looking ahead, plans to enhance mentor-teacher support, streamline leadership development, and strengthen incentives are already in motion.

When someone feels a sense of belonging, you empower them to exercise their autonomy and agency to do great things. The Davidson Day Mentor Program distinguishes itself by focusing on the wellbeing, support, and satisfaction of new teachers. It's not an evaluative program; instead, it centers on providing a supportive and welcoming environment to facilitate successful transitions and empower educators, which aligns with the School's dedication to fostering a positive, supportive work culture. Focusing on nurturing new and existing educators, this program embodies the institution's values of connection, collaboration, and growth. As the program evolves, participant feedback and insights will continue to shape and refine this essential initiative, ensuring a brighter future for Davidson Day and its community.