Teachers recognized for mentoring relationships with beginning educators

PWCS honored the following recipients of and nominees for the 2012–13 Mentor Awards:

Rippon Middle School teacher Joan Lomax was named Lead Mentor of the Year; and
Woodbridge Middle School Spanish teacher Trinette Haralson was named Mentor of the Year.

Nominees for Mentor of the Year were:
Samantha Albright, Kilby Elementary School;
Sandra Cahill, Cedar Point Elementary School;
Jessica English, Hylton High School;
Katrice Howerton, Fred M. Lynn Middle School;
Christopher Norkun, Freedom High School;
Martha O’Brien, Penn Elementary School;
Ann Reighard, Rosa Parks Elementary School;
Missy Thomas, Rosa Parks Elementary School; and
Casey Ward, Sinclair Elementary School.

The School Division’s mentor program, coordinated by Professional Development Specialists Julie Curry and Dr. Tim Neall in the Office of Professional Learning, under the direction of Dr. Janet Greer, matches a beginning educator with a veteran educator in a learning partnership. The program helps new educators navigate the challenges of teaching and promotes professional reflection and growth.

The Mentor Awards program recognizes mentors and lead mentors who best promote a learning-focused environment that helps new teachers problem solve and guides them toward self-discovery, who model research-supported instructional practices, overcome logistical challenges to providing quality mentoring interactions, and who advocate for new educators and mentoring.