by Julie Dodd
Mentoring Committee co-chair
The JEA/NSPA conventions are when we provide training the new mentors and extended training for the experienced mentors. More than 25 mentors and Mentor Committee members attended the JEA/NSPA convention in San Francisco, April 25-27.
Following a full day of training on Thursday, the mentors and committee members enjoyed a festive dinner at Buca di Beppo. Linda Barrington made reservations for us, and we were seated together in a small dining room.
The group swapped stories about their mentoring experiences and their own teaching and discussed the importance of the mentoring program. The new mentors and experienced mentors had the opportunity to meet each other.
Even though the mentors are career journalism teachers, were active in their state scholastic press organizations, and have attended JEA conventions, many of them had never met the veteran media advisers from other states. So the Mentoring Program accomplishes that.