A sage invites wise people into their life. Fools gather with fools (Dan Rockwell)

 

Excellent piece by Dan Rockwell on the seven marks of mentors who change lives.

Through a glass eye your throne Is the one danger zone, take me to the pilot for control (Elton John)

Photo by Jessica Da Rosa on Unsplash

Being a mentor and/or having a mentor is a fundamental part of teaching, leading a school..actually - leading a fulfilling life!

I've had this article from 'TED ideas' in my bookmarks for a while: looking at the five types of mentors you need in your life, Time to trot it out.

Mentor #1: The master of craft

If you want to be the best teacher, Principal, Head of Department...ask yourself, 'Who are the most iconic figures in that area that you have access to? This person can function as your personal Jedi master, someone who’s accumulated their wisdom through years of experience and who can provide insight and fine-tune your skills. As a Principal I often reach out to fellow Principals for advice. In my current position I'm part of a network of ten other Campus Principals. Three of them are my sounding boards for advice when I've needed it.

Mentor #2: The champion of your cause

This mentor is someone who has your back, who will talk you up to others, and it’s important to have one of these in your current workplace. Of those ten colleagues, Jim Seumanu would be my go to guy here.

Mentor #3: The co-pilot

Another name for this type: Your best work bud. The co-pilot is the colleague who can listen to you vent over coffee. This kind of mentoring relationship is best when it’s close to equally reciprocal. Sadly, the role of Principal doesn't lend itself to this one easily. Actually my wife is both my co-pilot and my anchor (as outlined below). 

Mentor #4: The anchor

This person doesn’t have to work in education — in fact, it could be a friend or family member (Jacky is both). While your champion supports you to achieve specific career goals, your anchor is a confidante and a sounding board. Because the anchor is keeping your overall best interests in mind, they can be particularly insightful when it comes to setting priorities, achieving work-life balance, and not losing sight of your values.

Mentor #5: The reverse mentor

Pay attention to learning from the people you’re mentoring, even though they may have fewer years in the workplace than you. I've definitely learnt a lot from my colleagues over the years.

Well, that was fun. Have a go yourself, if you think you are clever enough. 

I see the light surrounding you (Evermore)

Okay - two things have driven this one:

1 As I posted about recently, I had to put together a presentation to the staff on being a mentor.

I used this quote to kick it off:

A teacher affects eternity; he can never tell where his influence stops (Henry Adams)

To introduce this idea, I asked my colleagues to reflect on students who were still in contact with them: that would mean they'd formed a lasting bond. Clearly our students outgrow us (quickly!) but if they remain in contact via Facebook or email they want to maintain a connection.

A very small number of them actually indicated they were still in touch and no one had students from over 20 years ago.

Made me think about (all of) my former students who are still connected with me via Facebook or emails. Made me feel blessed that a number of them are way past the 20 year mark - not that they'll thank me for reminding them of that I guess.

2 I put together a PowerPoint presentation about myself for my classes (this was inspired by a lecturer at Massey who did just that when I took the Year 12s for a visit recently AND my amazing colleague Amy, who tells her students about her past which includes her James Franco story - hi Amy!). 

Amazingly, I've never thought to do that (tell my story - not the James Franco bit). So while SWMBO was at work one Saturday, I set about making a PowerPoint. In my delve into the Purdzilla archives I came across a lot of old photos from my teaching past.

My first year teaching (New Plymouth Boys' 1983) - the pre Jacky years.

That made me wonder again about my former students - the oldest of whom will be about to enter their 50s (I was only 7 years older than them in 1983). And especially about the ones who are still in contact.

Mt Albert Grammar late 90s

So here we go - a celebration of those wonderful former students and former times. 

Warning! The photos that follow are from then and are hopefully not too embarrassing for the participants (I did get permission where I could).

Unfortunately you may be missing from this line up. I keep everything. If you wrote me a letter or a note when I left the school - I have it, but unfortunately if photos don't exist - they don't exist! And if you're wondering why there are quite a few from Macleans College 1986-1990, well - there's a reason for that!

MAGS School House

That was a period of my teaching life when all the planets aligned.

In 1986 I was into my second job - my fourth year teaching, so a little more comfortable in my teaching skin, but still inexperienced.

Macleans College late eighties

I'd had my three teaching college sections in co-ed schools (Rutherford High, Havelock North High and Keri Keri High School) but I'd had most of my education so far in boys' schools, having gone to Mt Albert Grammar as a student and then starting my teaching career at New Plymouth Boys'.

So teaching girls was a newish phenomenon and I loved how they approached English differently.

Waimea College early 90s

Macleans College at that time was led by Colin Prentice with Allen MacDonald (Mac) as DP. Still the best top two I've ever come across. 

Colin was charismatic and inspirational, Mac was simply born to be a DP - no nonsense, direct, and a lot of fun. Throw in Sue Miller (a lovable stickler) as Te Kanawa house leader and some wacky fellow TK personnel like Steve, Pete and Kent and - woo mama - what a staff!

Ledie - Waimea College

The difference to NPBHS was vast. I'd liked starting there but the feeling at Macleans, with the whole (much younger) staff moving in the same direction, was palpable. 

It really got my blood pumping. I wanted to excel for my students, and for Colin.


I was still young too, I was still in my twenties when I joined the staff at Macleans College from New Plymouth Boys' High School.

Denene - Macleans College

Lance - Macleans College

Aaron, Lance, Dipak, Michael - Macleans

Teesh - Stratford High School late 2000s

The mighty 3PY of 1986. Jody, Andy, Kylie, Julie et al. 

1986 at 3PY camp.
The post Jacky years!

The school, the leaders, being a young dad (second son Adam came along at the end of my first Macleans year) - that's some of it, but not all.

Jynette - Macleans College

The crucial ingredient was the type of student at Macleans at that time. 

I know it doesn't make much sense, but I really believe there was an extraordinary X factor about so many of these students. There was a really concentrated awesomeness to them that I have not experienced to the same degree since.

There were many great students to come in my post Macleans future (like Rebecca and Ledie and Kim and Ecca and others) but my students from Macleans 1986 to 1990 will always have a special place in my heart.

So - here's the final round up of photos from that time:

3PYers grown up. Kylie and Jody - Macleans 

Media Studies - Macleans

Lance, Jody, Jynette et al in Media Studies - Macleans

Kylie, Robyn - Macleans

Denene - Macleans

Jody, Julie, Kylie - Macleans

Jynette - Macleans

If you're reading this and I've left you out of the photo gallery, my heartfelt apologies. When you single out some there's always a danger you'll leave out some, but, unfortunately, as I said - I have no photos of plenty of you as students.

Please know that I continue to hold dear the time I spent teaching you.

Dance with waves (Anouar Brahem)

I had to put together a PD presentation on mentoring for the staff recently. 

It was hard for me to go past the definition of a mentor from Tuesdays With Morrie (by Mitch Albom): 

Maybe it was a grandparent, a teacher or a colleague. Someone older, patient and wise, who understood you when you were young and impassioned, helped you to see the world as a more profound place, and gave you sound advice to guide your way through it.

Equally hard for me not to include the Yoda mentor-ship of Luke from The Empire Strikes Back or this Kid President from the awesome Soul Pancake folks.



Both these sources emphasise being:

•Empathetic

•Sharing expertise

•Encouraging/ supporting

•Giving honest feedback

•Understanding, helpful

•Giving sound advice

That captures, for me, what a mentor truly is.