Mentors can learn and obtain a variety of benefits from their mentoring relationship, such as: becoming a better leader; learning more about the teaching profession; achieving personal career gains; playing a part in shaping the teachers of tomorrow; gaining new perspectives and fresh ideas, including insights into younger generations; sharpening one’s emotional intelligence; and the satisfaction that comes with the opportunity to change someone’s world.

11 Reasons why you should be a Mentor. Art of Mentoring https://artofmentoring.net/11-reasons-why-you-should-be-a-mentor-2/ 

There are many noted benefits of mentorship for mentees, such as career advancement and skill development. A mentor can help you set goals and identify skills needed to stay focused and on track to reach these goals. A mentor can also help you navigate various work and personal situations based on their own experiences in teaching and education. Additionally, working with a mentor can expand your network of contacts–both personal and professional. A strong network can introduce you to many resources and opportunities.

3 Reasons Why You Should Become a Mentor or Mentee, Bringing Women Together Vancouver. https://bwtvancouver.com/2020/08/13/3-reasons-become-mentor-mentee/

Participation in this mentorship opportunity requires your attendance at the virtual kick off event on March 11th. This event will serve as your orientation to the program and as a career speed dating opportunity for mentors and mentees to get to know each other and be paired. 

Following this structured opportunity, we will be hosting other facilitated sessions, including a goal setting session, a midpoint pulse check and a year end celebration. Although live (virtual) participation in these events is encouraged, they can be consumed independently if you have a scheduling conflict.

Outside of these facilitated sessions, mentees and mentors will select activities based on agreed upon goals, in their own individual styles and preferences. Frequency and duration of meetings is set by the pair, but a recommended frequency is no more than twice a month and no less than once every two months. A recommended timeline for the formalized mentorship relationships is a year, taking us to our year end celebration. But ultimately the “separation” or “redefinition” of the relationship can happen at the discretion of the pair. 

An example of stages through which mentoring relationships evolve includes:

• Initiation: when mentors and mentees form expectations and get to know one another
• Cultivation: when the relationship matures and mentors typically provide the greatest degree of psychosocial and career support
• Separation: when mentees seek autonomy and more independence from mentors
• Redefinition: when mentors and mentees transition into a different form of relationship characterized by more peer-like interactions or terminate the relationship

Kram KE. Mentoring at work: Developmental relationships in organizational life. Glenview, IL: Scott Foresman; 1985a.

**Responsibilities pulled from Metros. S.E adapted to stages from Kram KE.

Metros. S.E. (2006) The Importance of mentors, Chapter5, retrieved online at https://www.educause.edu/research-and-publications/books/cultivating-careers-professional-development-campus-it/chapter-5-importance-mentors 

Kram KE. Mentoring at work: Developmental relationships in organizational life. Glenview, IL: Scott Foresman; 1985a.

Participation is free for mentors, and $25 + GST and service fees for mentees. Pairs will also receive Skip the Dishes gift cards to support coffee or meals during virtual check-ins.