Tips for Mentors
October 2025
Dear Mentors,
As October unfolds, many beginning educators shift from the initial excitement of the school year into the more complex phases of survival and disillusionment. This is a pivotal time for mentors to lean into their relationships and reflect on their practice.
How have your coaching conversations with your mentees been going?
Listening intentionally, empathetically, and responsively can shape trust, foster growth, and create space for authentic dialogue.
In this month’s BEST Mentor Roundtables, we’ll explore foundational listening skills by modeling reflective listening and using observation tools that help mentors support beginning educators in feeling seen, heard, and empowered during this critical time of transition.
Focus of the Month
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Standard: 1b – Listening as a cornerstone of learning-focused relationships
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Essential Question: How does listening impact our learning-focused relationships, and how might we develop and grow this skill?
Video| The Art of Listening | Simon Sinek - YouTube
Video| Learning-focused Planning Conversation on Vimeo
Template| Learning Focused Conversations: A template for reflection, Mentoring Matters, by Lipton and Wellman
Podcast| Designing Impactful Coaching Goals | Bright Morning Podcast (brightmorningteam.com) (includes demonstration coaching conversation with veteran teacher setting their growth goal)
Join our Mentor Roundtables this month to learn in community!
Sign up here: Mentor On-going Opportunities
BEST Ongoing Learning Opportunities: Mentor Roundtable
Introducing BEST Mentor Roundtable
Mentor Roundtables are ongoing learning sessions designed to support mentors in deepening their practice, building community, and enhancing their ability to support beginning educators. These sessions are aligned with the BEST Mentor Learning and Development Pathways and grounded in equity-centered, research-based mentoring strategies.
By engaging in Roundtables, mentors will:
- Strengthen their coaching and relationship-building skills
- Learn and share strategies for supporting new educators
- Contribute to a statewide community of practice
- Help improve educator retention and success
What to Expect
Mentors who attend Roundtables will:
- Participate in structured, facilitated conversations using the Mentor Roundtable Scope and Sequence
- Explore topics such as culturally responsive mentoring, coaching cycles, and educator wellness
- Receive curated content and facilitation support
Ways to Engage
You can choose how you'd like to participate:
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Join BEST Statewide Roundtables
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Join BEST Asynchronous Roundtable Canvas
- Sign-up on pdEnroller to be added to the Canvas course
- Your mentors will have access to Roundtable materials and receive clock hours with participation
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Attend Your Own Roundtable Locally
- Some districts host their own Roundtables using BEST Mentor Roundtable content
- Reach out to your district and attend in-district Mentor Roundtables
If you're a district leader and would like your district to offer an in-district Roundtable, please fill out this form:
Click here to request in-district Roundtable resources!
October Training Opportunities
Events fill fast. Sign-up early!
Foundational Learning
Mentor Academy 101
Extended Learning
Observation and Feedback
Registration Open for Future Training Opportunities
BEST will offer more trainings in the new school year. All confirmed events have been published on BEST Events & Trainings. You're invited to register for events you're interested in attending on pdEnroller!
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