Embedded Files
Mentor Coordinators
Mentor Coordinators
Our goal is for all new teachers at Louisa County Public Schools to immediately feel like part of the team. Our mentoring program matches each new teacher with an experienced peer during the critical first year of teaching. By providing this comprehensive and personal support, a new teacher's opportunity for growth dramatically increases. One key to the success of the program is relationship development. Each mentor takes a personal interest in the career of their new teacher and supports them by:
Providing professional and personal support through one-on-one interactions
Helping introduce the new teacher into the school system and community
Sharing organization and time-management techniques
Collaborating on a wide range of teaching strategies
Leah Hopkins - hopkinlm@lcps.k12.va.us
Megan Ryan - ryanmm@lcps.k12.va.us
Advice from Teachers, who just completed their 1st Year at LCPS to possible candidates . . .
Advice from Teachers, who just completed their 1st Year at LCPS to possible candidates . . .
What advice would you give to next year's new teachers? 26 Survey Responses
Plan ahead, give it your best, and be confident.
Don’t be afraid to ask for help!
Be flexible, don't accept more than you can do, and seek out a support system within your school.
Never be afraid to ask for help or clarification—everyone is willing and happy to help and it does not mean you are incapable! You are part of an awesome family now!🦁
Don't be afraid to ask questions. This team is amazing and extremely supportive. They will find the answer for you.
Just keep swimming! You've got this! If you feel like you don't have it, don't be afraid to ask. You're in the perfect district where all staff, including Mr. Straley, cares about you, your students, and your future!
Don't be afraid to ask questions, this county is amazing and everyone is willing to help you out to succeed!
Go into your first year with 0 expectations. Trust your mentor and don’t be afraid to ask questions or ask for help/advice when you need it.
Teaching is no easy feat, but you are here for a reason so make it count!
Ask. For. Help!! Literally everyone in LCPS is dying to help others, and if you ask for help, you’ll get it with no judgment. Plus, even if you know what you’re doing, ask someone else how they’ve seen it done in the past and they just might show you a way to improve what you already had planned in a way that works best for that specific school climate.
Lean on your mentor and keep a journal of questions/thoughts so that when a new teacher mentor comes around you're ready to ask what you really need help with.
Don't reinvent the wheel.
Try to familiarize yourself with the daily school routines as quickly as possible. That way you can be more proactive with your time in the classroom.
Just love your students. That's the most important part of what you do. Everything else falls into place. You'll get everything done and find your groove in no time. Don't be afraid to ask for help when you need it. Your colleagues are your best support system.
Ask your mentor to go through their day from START to finish. This was my 3rd year in the classroom but the smallest things made a huge impact. Every school is different so even seasoned teachers will learn something. Walk through the school with your mentor, look at the curriculum together.
Take some PD on teaching virtually and practice with one another to get to know the different systems (Zoom, Google Hangout, Skype, FaceTime, etc.)
You will certainly face challenges with your first year teaching, but remember your why!
Be flexible and be humble. Give yourself grace, because we all will fail and make some mistakes.
LCPS is a great place to work with a lot of supportive people. There is somebody out there that will help you , you just need to ask
LCPS has so many great resources and tools, use them and don’t be afraid to ask for help!
Stay positive and just do your best.
1. Be flexible. At any one point, life can and will change. Whether it's a pandemic to ice storms that close the buildings...life will happen and sticking to a schedule or lesson plan as though it were the most important thing in the world will not benefit the students. 2. Remember that the students are the most important part of our career (not job). We are here to meet the students' needs, not the Standards of Learning or the the curriculum pacing guide, and we are here to teach. But we are not teaching porous walls or empty cups yearning to be filled. We are working with and caring for children (even 18 year-old seniors can be children) who have individual needs, concerns, and lives.
Welcome to Team LCPS!! Have fun and build relationships with your new work family.
Be flexible! It seems like this year will be unique. Make connections with parents early in the year. Some are hard to reach, but it is one of the most valuable things to put time and effort into. If we are doing remote learning, parents will need to buy into it just as much as the students.
Don't think twice about asking for help or support. This school division is extremely helpful and want to help you.
Don’t be too hard on yourself. Mistakes are proof you’re trying and no one has a perfect first year. Take the evolutions and grow from them.
Report abuse