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.

The executive mentoring program is hands down the best professional development I have ever had. The sessions are meaningful, relevant, and personal. For me, the mentoring has been all about processing situations, experiences, and discussing pressing educational topics with a high level, trusted mentor who has the knowledge and wisdom to guide, lead, and support my growth as a leader. If you are looking to grow in the most authentic ways, look no further. I will forever be grateful for this opportunity to be coached and mentored by one of the best!

The CIESC Executive Coaching/Mentoring program has had a significant impact on me personally and on our district. As a new Superintendent, I was able to benefit from the experience and wisdom of my mentor. I know I can call any of my colleagues for advice, but it was beneficial to have someone specifically charged with helping me grow and be successful in my position. My mentor provided a listening ear, asked questions, and offered different perspectives for me to consider as I was navigating challenging situations. We now partner mentors with administrators moving into their first administrative position in our district or their first principalship. In each situation, the partnership has been positive and just what our leaders needed. Being a school administrator has never been more challenging than it is today and the CIESC mentoring program has become a key support in our district for those transitioning into these important roles.

The CIESC mentorship program has provided me with a mentor who understands the pressure and joy of administration. My mentor serves as an outside perspective, coach, and friend. The mentorship program has helped me find balance, happiness, and confidence in both my personal and professional world. This program has in return grown my capacity to mentor teachers, staff, and other administrative colleagues. In my opinion, this kind of social-emotional support is a must have for administrators today.

The CIESC mentorship program has had an incredible influence on me both professionally and personally. My mentor brings with him many years of experience in administrative roles and is an incredible thought partner as I reflect on big decisions. I find myself looking forward to our meetings as it is a time that I am able to slow down and engage in reflective practice as well as share successes and hopes for the future. My mentor reminds me that at the end of the day we are all people and if we serve our staff, they can ultimately serve our students.

Mentorship has always been an essential component of my professional growth. As I’ve moved into new administrative positions, the value of mentorship has become even

more apparent. Having a CIESC mentor in my first year of principalship provided an outlet to openly share personal goals, struggles, and job-related scenarios. My mentor’s experience and objective input was the critical lens and collaboration I needed to feel confident in the work. Every session provided meaningful dialogue, reflection, and learning. Not to mention, CIESC has done an amazing job of recruiting only the best mentors with credentials any administrator would strive to possess and accomplish within their career. Don’t hesitate to get a CIESC mentor. Best advice I could give any administrator at any level and regardless of where they are in their career.