On this episode of 3Ps in a Pod, you will meet Inez Ramirez, NBCT, a mentor with the Maricopa Unified School District. Inez walks us through her role as an instructional mentor for beginning teachers and the ways mentoring supports teachers in her district. She shares how she not only differentiates the support she provides but the various ways that she meets the needs of her mentees and maximizes their time spent connecting. Host Juliana Urtubey, NBCT, and Inez reinforce that the mentor-mentee support structures are built on trusting relationships. 

As a mentor through the Arizona K12 Center's Arizona New Teacher Support Program, Inez worked on a case study about her mentorship of one teacher in particular this past year. She shares a bit about how she worked with that teacher, Anthony Gonzalez. Inez also provides advice on how to avoid stressors that are inevitable for teachers. Anthony's growth demonstrates the ways instructional mentoring can help strengthen the impact of early career educators. 

Be sure to tune in to the next episode when we will hear from both Inez and her mentee Anthony about their work together through the past year.

Continue your learning

After listening to this episode, use the reflection guide to further explore and apply the power of mentoring. Find the reflection guide at this link.

Learn more about Joellen Killion's work Are You Coaching Heavy or Light? and Coaching heavy, coaching light: How to deepen professional practice. 

Learn more about the Arizona K12 Center's professional learning opportunities and mentoring and induction support at azk12.org.