2019 Annual Conference

Human Resource Development and Training

Concurrent Session (45 minutes)

New school and district leaders face complex challenges of accountability and politics. Beginning this leadership journey requires support from a structured mentoring and induction program. Experienced and trained mentors assist new leaders by bridging the gap between what they know and need to know to successfully lead their learning communities.  

The target audience for this session is anyone who has an interest in learning more about mentoring and induction programs for educational leaders. The context for the presentation is educational leadership, however, the program highlights will focus on research-based components that could be applied to various adult leadership positions and professional organizations. The session will offer highlights of one successful mentoring and induction program along with key descriptions of training and quality components that could benefit and be applied to any organization seeking opportunities and new information to support new personnel in their settings and those that serve as mentors.

This presentation will provide knowledge around best practices in mentoring followed by opportunities for participants to engage in guided dialogue on how mentoring provides support to new leaders and professional growth for those serving as mentors as well as explore application in their own professional setting. The learning outcomes will provide participants an opportunity to become knowledgeable about a mentoring and induction model that has achieved Gold accreditation with the International Mentoring Association. The session will highlight description of the program structure and training for mentors and “what works” in the educational setting.

The Kansas Educational Leadership Institute (KELI) is a state-wide mentoring and induction program developed by Kansas practitioners that serves new principals and superintendents in their first years of practice. KELI provides on-site, face-to-face mentoring delivered by trained Kansas administrators. Mentors develop a confidential and reflective environment that enables new leaders to apply knowledge, examine beliefs, and consider decisions that impact the school environment. KELI maintains a focus on building capacity that helps new leaders embrace their positions with increased confidence. KELI collaborates with state-wide partner organizations and aligns with national leadership standards to enable new leaders to understand system perspectives and strategically develop organizational capacity.

KELI mentors participate in required coaching training. Training modules are on-line allowing busy leaders to participate in training from their offices. The purpose of coaching training is to learn the tools of being a coach-like mentor. This guided training includes practice labs with small group discussion, role-playing, and coaching practice around real-life topics. During seven years of operation, 100% of district program mentors and mentees agreed KELI helped mentees grow professionally and 100% of district level mentors agreed that KELI’s training helped them be a more effective mentor.

The format of this session will be interactive. Presenters will provide an overview of the mentoring and induction program and techniques will engage participants in dialogue throughout the session to offer critical inquiry and application of the content to their organizational context for adult learning. The presentation will include questions that provide participants with the opportunity to examine their current practices and opportunities to consider program components that may provide support to new employees or leaders in their work or professional setting.