Mentoring : An Opportunity for New and Experienced Teachers
Formal Mentoring Through MMEA and MNSOTA
MMEA recently completed the second year of their mentorship pilot program, which included collaboration with MNSOTA on string-teaching related issues. This program is designed to meet the needs of new teachers in the field who might be interested in attending workshops, observing veteran teachers, partnering with an experienced teacher for one-on-one mentoring, or simply having a person to connect with via email or phone on an as-needed basis. If you are interested in being a mentor, if you are a new teacher interested in a mentoring
partnership, or if you know of teachers who might be good in either capacity, please contact Mary Schaefle at the MMEA office: info@mmea.org, 763-566-1460.
Informal Mentoring Through MNSOTA
On an informal basis, MNSOTA would like to establish a list of experienced classroom and studio teachers who are available for contact regarding questions and concerns that arise for new teachers. For experienced teachers who volunteer to be mentors, the commitment level involves advising only when called with specific issues. For newer classroom or studio teachers, situations may arise in which communication with an experienced teacher would be helpful. There are many experienced teachers who remember the excitement and overwhelming nature of the first years of working in string education and would like to be helpful to you. Please feel free to contact us to ask for advice; no question is too small if it enhances string teaching in our state. Whether you are willing to be a mentor, or if you want to askfor advice, please contact Jane Linde Capistran, 218-299-3285 x329, capistra@cord.edu, with your name, phone number and preferred
e-mail address.