Tips for Mentors
October 2026
Dear Mentors,
Each year, salmon return from the ocean to the rivers where their journey began. For many, that journey has become more difficult as dams, roads, and other human development have altered the waterways they once relied on. Fish ladders were built to restore access and help salmon continue their path to the river. Although a detour, they create a pathway around obstacles so salmon can continue journey under their own power. Mentoring reminds us of that work. If mentors can help identify a detour around a challenge and help navigate barriers along the way, we will be able to honor our mentee's assets and witness their unique journey of growth.
This month, we would like to invite you to our Roundtable to learn about the hardest coaching skill of all--- Active Listening.
This is not a new concept to most of us. However, it is very hard to do it well. Join us this month to practice this skill through listening self-assessment, scenario-based skill practice, and choice sessions for both new and experienced mentors as we explore how listening strengthens learning-focused relationships.
Essential Question of the Month:
How does listening impact our learning-focused relationships, and how might we develop and grow this skill?
Featuring Mentoring Standards 1b, 1g, and 1h.
Standard 1: Learning-Focused Relationship with Mentee
- b. Learning-Focused Conversations: I facilitate learning-focused conversations that promote reflective practices and result in improved student learning and equitable outcomes.
- g. Pausing: I foster learning-focused conversations by pausing.
- h. Paraphrasing: I foster learning-focused conversations by paraphrasing.
Resource for Mentors:
Additional Resource: Learning Walk
Learning Walks create opportunities to learn from practice together. Many of you already facilitate Learning Walks in your system. Either this is new or familiar to you, this resource may offer practical strategies that help transform observations into conversations that support continuous growth and improvement.
New Teacher Center: Learning walks as powerful professional learning — Collaboration that shifts practice
BEST Events and Trainings 2026-27
BEST events for 2026-27 are published on our website. Plan the next steps for your learning by exploring our offerings of Foundational, Extended, and Ongoing Learning Opportunities!
What's your next step in becoming a highly-trained and qualified mentor?
BEST Mentor Learning and Development Pathways
Start with our Foundational Learning Opportunities:
- Mentor Academy 101
- Mentor Academy 201
- Nakia Academy (equivalent to MA101 & 201)
Move into our Mentor Extended Learning:
- Using Instructional Framework in Observation and Feedback
- Mentoring Teachers of Special Education
- Mentoring ESAs
- Mentoring School Counselors
- Mentoring School Nurses
And continue to engage in learning year round through our Ongoing Learning Mentor Roundtable:
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