Executive Coaching / Mentoring

Through the executive mentor program, I am able to process the demands of my leadership position not only through my personal lens, but through the experience and expertise of my mentor, as well. With complete confidentiality and trust, I am able seek advice and guidance from my mentor in order to address complicated tasks and challenges with more resources than what I possess on my own. This program has fundamentally improved me as a leader and has given me confidence and wisdom beyond my years of experience.

Hamilton Heights School Corporation has been actively involved in the CIESC Administrative Mentoring Program since the beginning. This program has made our team stronger by allowing them to have professional conversations with leaders that have been there and done that. The strength of this program is the relationships that are generated with HHSC team members who want to better serve students working with CIESC mentors that want to help them achieve their goals.

Having a mentor has been an integral part of my personal and professional growth. It has helped me stay focused on what is important; supporting my staff, my students and my school community and has been more impactful than any other professional development that I’ve been involved in. My mentor provides an outside perspective, accountability, and a champion in my corner that is there to help guide and support me without judgement. If you’re interested in continuing to reflect, learn and grow as a leader, I would strongly recommend having a mentor in your life.

Working with my mentor through CIESC has been the most beneficial thing for me professionally. I have been rated as a highly effective assistant principal for the past 6 years, but now I actually feel like I am being highly effective in my school setting. Taking time out of our busy schedules in administration is hard to do, but the impact this has had on me as a professional is well worth it.

Being a school administrator can be fun, engaging, energetic, and joyful. It can also be very lonely as many who we serve find the position(s) rather enigmatic. Even with the relatively few administrative colleagues in a school/district, there are times when one needs to have constructive conversations where we feel safe from judgment. Several administrators in Mt. Vernon receive support from CIESC administrative mentors. Having years of excellent leadership experiences and a desire to help others grow, the CIESC mentors provide leadership support and a friendly ear. I value the relationship I have with my own CIESC mentor. She has helped me find perspective and identify powerful leadership actions based on my needs at the time. We all need a mentor, and sometimes we need to seek them outside of our organization. CIESC has great administrative mentors!

What would I do without my CIESC mentor? This partnership has afforded for me the opportunity to ask candid and “in-the-moment” questions. I can toss out many ways to solve a problem, and we can brainstorm together. The real luxury is that it’s even okay for me to say, “I have no idea what to do with this!” I have several colleagues that I can call upon for advice, but as a school principal, sometimes it’s nice to think “outside your district” and get a different lens on what’s happening. He has made me wiser and stronger — and definitely more reflective!

The CIESC mentoring program has been an absolute blessing for me in many ways. Having an experienced administrator has helped me process through difficult decisions and has provided another layer of support. We are all busy, and sometimes we allow time to be the deciding factor in our decision making. I find myself looking forward to each of our meetings no matter how busy my schedule gets. Our monthly meetings and check-ins help to recharge my battery and refresh my spirit. I am grateful for my mentor.