Our Origin Story
Our founder aspired to be a great teacher but struggled to get the mentoring support that she needed.
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In her 1st year, her mentor was rarely able to meet and was not open to sharing resources. Giving honest feedback to the mentor was challenging and there were no other mentors available.
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In her 2nd year, her mentor did not teach the same subject and also struggled to make time for mentorship.
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In her 3rd year, she was no longer given a mentor! When she went looking for a mentor online, she found that it cost over $1800 and you couldn't tell who your mentor would be or how experienced they were. She also tried a $175 self paced course but it lacked the personalized 1:1 element she needed.
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In her 4th year, she switched schools and noticed the difficulty of finding a mentor in a rural district or at a school where you're the only one teaching the content.
Unfortunately, this kind of story is common with teachers, especially those who are newly entering the field.
The Problem
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Many teachers are "voluntold" to be a mentor but some may not have the experience, time, energy, or even desire to be a mentor. This wastes district money and makes for a weak mentorship program.
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Many would-be great mentors are retiring or leaving the classroom mid-career.
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Many districts end their mentorship programs within 3 years leaving out teachers that still want mentorship.
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Many districts have ineffective review systems and struggle to sustain an effective mentorship program. A poor feedback system results in mentees who are afraid to ask questions, give feedback, or to appear inept. Giving honest feedback may also be viewed as useless if there are no other mentors available.
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With in-school mentorship, schedules may not easily align, making it challenging to make good matches and find a time to meet.
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Great professional development (PD) opportunities lose their benefits without accountability and continued support. With a mentor, teachers are more likely to retain the new PD skill or knowledge and grow professionally.
Our Solution
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Mentor Orchard's mentors are selectively picked based on their expertise, availability, and desire to be a great mentor!
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On their Mentor Orchard profile, mentors clearly state what support they offer, so mentees know what to expect and can choose the mentor that they need. We also have a Find Me A Mentor feature to make it easy to connect with the right mentor.
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Mentees choose the support that's right for them: whether it's one session for a quick problem or ongoing mentorship sessions to support their professional growth.
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Public reviews and mentor bios assure mentees that they are choosing a great mentor, that we are offering only great mentors, and give mentors feedback on how to provide an even better service! Mentors want to improve because reviews impact their future earnings.
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Because mentorship happens virtually, mentees have a variety of mentors to choose from, whether they are looking for a specific grade level, content, someone in another part of the world, or other unique characteristics.
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With a variety of availability, mentees meet at a time that is convenient for their schedule.
Our Story Continues...
Mentor Orchard went live with a strong cadre of mentor teachers and a vision to support teachers around the world!
Currently, we are connecting with districts, schools, and related organizations that are eager to support their teachers with a new or improved mentorship program. Contact us at hello@mentororchard.com to see how Mentor Orchard can support your educators, increase retention, and save you money.
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We are also continuing to connect with teachers through our main channels: Instagram @mentororchard and the Mentor Orchard podcast. Supporting educators leads to kinder and more educated students who can make the world a better place.
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Join our mission, become a part of Our Story, and let's improve education together!