Veteran and future teachers teamed up for a first-of-its-kind mentorship program during the Show Up for Teachers event last week, an annual event hosted by First Lady Abby Cox.
A Diverse Group of Educators
The one-day mini-mentorship program paired 30 future educators studying at Utah Valley University (UVU) with experienced teachers from Alpine School District to develop relationships and learning opportunities among teachers.
“Great teachers don't grow in isolation, they grow through meaningful relationships,” said Dr. Mia Kang, Associate Dean of the School of Education at UVU. “We are thrilled to see our future educators learning alongside veteran teachers, building the partnerships, confidence, and sense of belonging that creates a lasting impact on classrooms and communities alike."
Kang was part of the group, along with Show Up for Teachers and Alpine School District, that created the mentorship program The group of teachers included educators from 27 different schools who represented all levels of teaching and more than a dozen subjects.
“We jumped at this opportunity to give our veteran teachers an opportunity to share their expertise and influence with teachers candidates at Utah Valley University,” said Rich Stowell, communications director for Alpine School District. “Alpine teachers represent the very best of the teaching profession, and as stewards we want to pass on their expertise to future teachers.”
Show Up for Teachers
Show Up for Teachers is the premier event for educators throughout the state. Each July, First Lady Abby Cox hosts the event, a collaborative, community-driven conference focused on educator wellness, to celebrate teachers and honor their hard work. Educators attend inspiring classes and visit booths sponsored by organizations focused on supporting education. They can also choose to earn USBE credit hours or university credit through SUU by attending, and receive free supplies for their classrooms.
Kang has attended Show Up for Teachers several times, and each time she has been inspired by the energy, enthusiasm, passion, and unwavering commitment of the educators who participate. The experience made her realize how meaningful it would be for preservice teachers in the UVU School of Education to experience that same sense of community and encouragement.
For veteran Alpine teachers, like Dr. Melissa Allen, Show Up for Teachers is the perfect place to collaborate with new people.
“I have been very excited about this mentorship opportunity at Show Up,” she said. “It’s been fun to meet my counterpart and continue the learning process.”
Allen was paired with Miriam Martinez, a biology education major at Utah Valley University.
“One of the biggest takeaways is just how big the community is,” said Martinez. “I mentioned to my mentor when I first walked in when I was handed the goodie bag—the first thing they told me was ‘thank you for what you do.’ It was really nice to feel the support of the community.”
The Power of Mentorship
Alpine teachers jumped at the opportunity to be mentors, recognizing benefits for themselves as well as their mentees.
“When I was writing my dissertation proposal at Baylor University, I had two mentors that were at the end of their program that built up our capacity and had a big impact on me,” she said. “So whenever I get that opportunity, regardless of whether I'm in the mentee or mentor role, anything that we learn increases our ability and our capacities as educators.”
“We are proud of the expertise our teachers bring to this program and are honored to help extend and enhance that expertise by networking with future teachers,” added Stowell.
The networking can help future teachers hit the ground running. Martinez, who is set to intern at Mountain View High School this coming school year, feels more prepared.
“There's a lot of worry about how prepared I'm going to be and how ready I'm going to be, but after talking to my mentor, I know there will be so many challenges, but I also know that it's going to be an amazing experience,” she said.
Unique Partnership with UVU
Show Up for Teachers helped forge the relationship between Alpine and UVU in March. First Lady Cox embraced the idea from the very beginning, according to Kang, and the Show Up for Teachers team helped to make the mentorship program part of the event.
Alpine teachers signed up and described their journey in education and the kinds of roles, settings, or students they felt most drawn to. Answers to detailed questions helped leaders at UVU match them appropriately with their teacher education students.
“Our partnership with Utah Valley University and the Show Up for Teachers team is enormously valuable to the education profession, our school district, and our educators,” said Stowell.