Does good mentoring happen in Adult Education and Literacy? Indeed, it does.

 

After serving as a teacher and leader in two public schools for over 30
years without mentors, I have reveled in the realm of professional
mentorship as an adult educator in a comprehensive nonprofit learning center
for the past ten years. I have been extremely fortunate to have had the same
administrative mentor for nine years, which has enabled me to develop
professionally as an educator/instructor, transition-to-college program
coordinator, and children's literacy project director and, in turn, serve as
a mentor to students, professional colleagues, and community collaborators.
What I have gained from the wisdom and advisement shared by my mentor has
enhanced both my educational experience and intuitive knowledge and enabled
me to be ever so much better at what I do than I would have otherwise.
Without his respect for both my personal and professional integrity and
capability, I would not have endured the hardships that were inherent in my
assignments or the travails of experimental pilots. I dare say that a
synergistic professional relationship, characterized by confidentiality,
dedication, loyalty, and humor, helped to sustain both our programs and us
personally.

 

If I were to use David Rosen's summary of Adult Literacy Education
Leadership qualities, experience, behaviors, and skills as performance
criteria or as a competencies checklist for my mentor, Jack Glade, Executive
Director of The Tutorial Center, he would be awarded a five-star rating for
each category, including the two that were added by another discussion
contributor. How could I or anyone not benefit from quality mentoring from
an adult educator with those qualities? Further, how could they possibly not
be radiated or magnified to affect many other members of adult education and
literacy?

 

I also benefited as an adult education practitioner from the mentoring that
I received several years ago from Amy Brockman when she was responsible for
professional development at Vermont DOE. She was a virtual model of "best
practice", expert advisor/coach/mentor, and human bridge to educational
betterment.

 

Grateful especially to these two adult educators, but to all who have
mentored me in some way,

 

Jan

 
Tell me a story ... Project
Jan Martin Bopp, Project Director
Adult Education and Literacy
the tutorial center
208 Pleasant Strret
Bennington, VT 05201

802.447.0111 ext. 108
janb at tutorialcenter.org

The Bennington 
  BRIDGE-TO-COLLEGE & Careers PROGRAM
Jan Martin Bopp, Educator and Program Coordinator

 

 

 


 


 

 


 
 
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