The Kenan Fellow/Mentor partnership is the foundation of our program and what we do. What does this partnership mean to you?
The idea of a fellow/mentor partnership is one that I cherish. As a 15 year veteran of the classroom, I often find that I do more mentoring than being a mentee. That’s fine, but there’s also an adage that says, “if you don’t feed the teachers, they will eat the children.” An ideal mentoring situation for a veteran and seasoned educator is one of mutual respect, shared collaboration, and forward movement in ideas and practice. This brings to mind a shared time of clarity where I can match new experiences with prior expertise to create a special moment in learning for myself and my students, in the current time and in the future. To me, what is unique and exceptional about the Kenan Fellows program, is the recognition that many high quality teachers are seeking opportunities to continue to learn and grow with individuals inside and outside the field of education. There are tons of programs in the public arena for new teachers, but there are few for those who are leaders, themselves. In short, the Kenan Fellow/Mentor partnership offers me the exceptional gift of NOT feeling like I need to eat my students!