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The Power of Mentorship in Education

Mentors can come in any form and at any time. Whether it was a favorite teacher growing up, a cafeteria worker you confided in, a family member, or an inspiring colleague, most of us would never have made it where we are without following in the footsteps of someone we admire. This is especially true for educators and support professionals, who, more than most professionals, are expected to be both seekers and sources of inspiration.

“A teacher who made an impact on me is my mom,” said Amber Bloom, a student at the University of Pittsburgh at Greensburg who posed with her mom for this issue’s cover.

“My mom, Tammi Linn Bloom, is a 6th grade science and social studies teacher in the Norwin School District, and she shows the students who come into her classroom every day the love and compassion that some of them don’t receive at home. She makes an impact that I want to make on my students one day.”

It’s never too late to thank that special person for passing you the torch of inspiration that you use to light the path forward for your students, every day.

Who is a teacher or education support professional who made an impact on you?

Alana Jones: Special education teacher at Northwest Middle School in the Reading School District

“I’ve been a teacher for four years. Prior to that, I was a paraprofessional for 15 years. Throughout my career, I was impacted by many people. However, other than my mother, there was one person who made a tremendous impact on me, [late PSEA President] Dolores McCracken. From the first day I met Dolores, she took me under her wing. She taught me that I was not just an aide, that I was not just an anything.

“Dolores not only made me a better educator, but she made me a better person. Because of her, I vowed to make a difference. I vowed to make everyone feel important. Dolores will forever be in my heart and will continue to impact me daily.”

Jonathan Gamon: Science teacher in the Southeastern Greene School District

“An educator who made a positive impact on my life and in my career would be Dr. Larry Moses. Though there are so many to pick from, Dr. Moses was someone I could talk to from an educational standpoint and be very professional with, but also had an open-door policy that if I was having any trouble in school or at any point in time, I could go to him, sit in his office, and we would just chat.

“That open door policy and that willingness to listen to me, not only as a student but as an individual, is truly what makes an educator great.”

Van Wagner: High school agriculture teacher in the Danville Area School District

“I want to give a shout-out to my former high school English teacher, Cynthia Kronrad. I had her, I believe, in 11th grade for English, in fact, right here in this building. And the impact that she had on me that I’d like to highlight was the fact that she forced me out of my comfort zone and encouraged me to get involved with the high school musical.

“In my senior year, I signed up for the musical ‘Oklahoma,’ and that was the first time I got on stage singing in front of people and performing. I’m now 47 years old, and I continue to perform both locally and nationally. I have her to thank for getting me out of my shell and finding the performer inside of me, and for making me a hopefully interesting classroom teacher for my students.”

Marc Howshall: Custodian in the Bangor Area School District

“The education support professional who impacted me the most, I would have to say, was my best friend for many years – my head custodian here, my boss who passed away over 11 years ago. He instilled in me how valuable we are, not only to the school, not only to teachers and the health and safety of the school, but also the impact we have on students.

“Through that thought process, he was able to influence in a positive way students who had issues that they would have to make up time because they did something wrong. But we would take them under our wing and just kind of nurture them. And same with the special needs students.

“Throughout that time, a program started to give the special needs students life skills and to help them along and hopefully grow in a positive way. He showed me that. The program continues today and has a positive impact on students especially. And I thank him every day for that.”

Patricia Jackson: English teacher in the Central York School District

“When I think about the teacher who had the most impact on me, that would be Mrs. Warner. She was the senior English teacher for honors at York Catholic High School. I took honors. I was a little afraid to do so, but she welcomed me into the class.

“I wrote a paper, an essay, and I used some fragments in it. I got sort of a low grade, and I went to talk to her about it, and she made me a deal: Rewrite another essay, use fragments, and identify every fragment, and she would regrade the paper, change the grade, and allow me to use fragments. I would be the only kid.

“So, I did it and I got a 100 percent and the chance to use fragments anytime I wanted to. She was an amazing teacher. She was a great teacher. But these things truly don’t define her. She was a legacy teacher who left a wake of other teachers, and I am one of them – not only a teacher, but a published author because of the encouragement she gave me in my writing.”

 

Yul Holloway: Secretary in the Central Dauphin School District

“An educator who had a huge impact on my education was my typing teacher, Ms. Berger. She encouraged me to learn to type fast, and I have her to thank for my career as a secretary today.”

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