The BC Principals’ and Vice-Principals’ Association Mentorship Program
Go to: https://bcpvpa.bc.ca/mentorship/
The BCPVPA is initiating a provincial pilot mentorship program for the 2017-2018 school year, recognizing the unique work and challenges encountered by new school-based principals and vice-principals throughout British Columbia. Initially this pilot aims to cultivate a network of support and collaborative partnerships engaging retired principals and vice-principals as mentors. The pilot project will include up to 40 mentoring partnerships, which will inform the longer-range development and sustainability of this provincial initiative respecting the need for place-based responsive design.
Guiding aims of the BCPVPA Mentorship Pilot Program
Build principals and vice-principals confidence and self-efficacy by:
- Ensuring fundamental processes and procedures related to administrative responsibilities are understood and enacted
- Developing capacity with the knowledge, skills and attitudes outlined in the BCPVPA Leadership Standards
- Developing a framework for reflection and decision-making
- Strengthening judgement and artistry in implementation of principals’ and vice-principals’ work
Maintain and enhance principals and vice-principals sense of well-being by:
- Developing a network and connections which create safety and the opportunity for risk-taking
- Creating a network of support for new principals and vice-principals, particularly in more remote and isolated areas of the province
- considering personal health and care
- maintaining perspective on tensions and struggles
- supporting each person’s path of actualization
Foster and value continuous learning for all by:
- Participating and engaging fully in the mentorship process
- Articulating professional vision and purpose and seeking and receiving feedback
- Respecting existing strengths and skills and identifying areas for continuous growth
Downloadable Applications
Guiding Principles of the BCPVPA Mentorship Pilot Program
- Open to principals and vice-principals new to their role or having experienced a significant change of role.
- Voluntary: participation is encouraged but never mandated or required
- Non-judgmental: the focus is on learning and growth and mentors act as agents of development
- Needs based: mentees are consulted on their needs, interests and choice of mentors
- Learner driven: develops opportunities for growth for both mentors and mentees, recognizes learning is reciprocal and mutually beneficial to all participants
- Trust-based: mentoring relationships respect the importance of vulnerability and the need for confidentiality
- Relational: respects the need and importance of relationship building within a leadership context
- Flexible: offers diverse opportunities for ways participants can meet and interact/communicate (for example in meeting place and technology use)
Implementation Framework of BCPVPA Mentorship Pilot Program
Roles and expectations of participants (mentors and new principals, vice-principals):
- Mentors will be required to be members of the retired Principals’ Association
- Participants will commit to participation for a full year
- Small honorarium of $300 will be provided for mentors
- Participants will commit 2-4 hours month minimum, with weekly contact if possible
Planning, communication and assignment of partnerships:
- Completed applications should be emailed to Kevin Reimer at the BCPVPA (kreimer@bcpvpa.bc.ca)
- Deadline extended to October 20
- Assignment of partnerships will be determined by the Mentorship Advisory Team in October
Facilitating quality mentorship interactions:
- Participants will engage with mentorship through both face-to-face and video-conferencing technologies
- Participants will co-create how the mentorship communication will take place informally (for immediate response) and for more formal planning (growth focus)
- A webinar will be held for all interested participants Nov.1 at 4 pm welcoming them to the program and establishing the initial mentorship processes
- Mentor training will be provided at the BCPVPA office over 2 days (November 9/10) and one day in May to bring closure and gather program feedback.