Collaborative Conversations Between Teacher and School Leader Candidates: A Co-Mentoring Network Develops

• In Event: Mentoring Alternatives: From Theory to Practice

Abstract

A co-mentoring network developed as teacher and school leader candidates met together during their preparation programs to discuss culturally sustaining, socially just pedagogy. The discussions were structured to be collaborative and conversational using shared anchor readings. This paper reports the processes and practices used in establishing the co-mentoring network, themes that emerged from the candidates’ collaborative conversations, and how the candidates assessed the co-mentoring network. The co-mentoring network used a relational mentoring stance (Fletcher & Ragins, 2007), exploring growth-fostering interactions and systemic power, which can affect mentoring relationships. Network participants sought to establish communication styles and trust which encouraged participants to share vulnerabilities with each other (Zachary & Fischler, 2014) while seeking to learn from experiences through discussion and reflection.

Authors

• Kathleen Mary Cowin, Washington State University - Tri-Cities

• Sarah Newcomer, Washington State University - Tri-Cities