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November 16

 YEA! It is Monday!!!
 
Today I have a live radio interview.  It takes place in the Old Town Bistro on Main Street so I am not sure what to expect.  Manning Kimmel is setting up as I arrive.  The booth where we are holding the interview is at the front of the Bistro with windows facing the street on a sunny day. 
 
We talk for a while and then he puts his head phones on and begins testing the system. He tells me it will be a few minutes then he begins talking and gives me the count down on his fingers.  Five, four, three…
 
In a booming pleasant voice he begins thanking the sponsors.  Not missing a beat he jumps right into the questions.  It seems a little weird as I cannot hear anything on the radio.  I can only hear his questions and my voice.  All the while, people are walking by on the street, the sun is glaring through the window, patrons are entering the restaurant, seated customers are ordering food, and the wait staff are bustling about.   I must remain focused reminding myself of my friend Jason’s favorite mantra in times like these.  Focus.
 
The time goes by quickly as we head to break.  Manning takes off his head phones and says things are going well.  Before I can finish my sentence he slips on his head phones, points to me, and starts… “Don’t forget today’s special at …”  And we are off.
 
The last half of the interview goes quickly and he packs up his equipment and is gone in a flash.  The coolest part was when the interview was over my parents called and said they enjoyed hearing me on the radio.  They live several hours away in Ohio but were able to hear the show live over the internet.  They thought that was cool!  My Dad said I sounded smarter than I look.  I guess that is why I was asked to do a radio show, not TV.
 
By afternoon I am speaking to a wonderful group of mentor teachers.  Before I get up to speak, Gail, one of the mentor directors, asks a lovely veteran teacher, “Did Bryan teach you?”…Hold on now!  But the worst part is still to come…  “No, but he taught some of my friends in High School.”  Et tu, Brute?!
 
The discussion is great as we talk about the importance of being an active, broad based, mentoring support system to assist new teachers to successfully become top notch.  It is not a “once a year drive-by” visit.  It is taking the time for multiple opportunities to deepen the mentee’s understanding and to advance teaching practices.   A successful mentoring program will reduce teacher turnover, improve teacher practice, and ultimately improve student instruction.
 
I still feel very strongly that all administrators should go through this training because the old “buddy system” of mentoring that many of us experienced, is a thing of the past.  You cannot determine if effective mentoring is taking place unless you know what you are looking for.  Also, mentoring is not a “one year and you are done” process.  I do not know of many successful training programs that stop immediately after twelve months.   Mentoring that is done well continues beyond one fiscal year.
 
Afterwards I have time to talk with several of these teachers and with old friends.  You see I am speaking in my home school district… and pushing buttons… as Becky would say.  They know me and they know my heart so they accept my rough edges.   You can’t cut steak with a spoon…so let’s hear it for rough edges!

 

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