A new DSST Public Schools initiative to ensure every new educator is known, supported, and empowered to thrive
At DSST, we believe that thriving teachers lead to thriving students. That's why we launched a New Educator Mentorship Program Pilot this spring at four DSST campuses: College View High School, Cedar Middle & High School, Conservatory Green High School, and Aurora Science & Tech High School.
At Aurora Science & Tech (AST) High School, ELA Teacher SJ Young is serving as a mentor to first-year educator Benjamin Agyekum, one of the mentor-mentee pairs at the heart of the pilot program. For SJ, the experience has been as much about personal growth as it has been about supporting a colleague.
Drawing on the formative relationships that shaped their own career, SJ brings a philosophy of mentorship that balances emotional honesty with practical skill-building:
"I've been really fortunate to have had strong mentors and coaches in my professional life. In all cases, my best mentors gave me space to balance processing the emotional reality of the community-centered work I was doing with nuts-and-bolts practical advice to learn how to do the work well…"
That dual focus — honoring the whole person while also developing craft — reflects exactly what DSST's mentorship model is designed to do. And for SJ, stepping into the mentor role has deepened their own practice in unexpected ways:
“Above all, my best mentors and coaches were constantly learning themselves,” Young said. “The mentorship pilot at AST has made me more of a learner than anything else, and it's been rewarding to grow in new ways while supporting the growth of my colleagues.”
The DSST Educator Mentorship Program exists to ensure every new teacher is fully known, supported, and empowered to thrive personally and professionally, creating classrooms where students experience excellent, equitable learning every day.
"This program represents our deep commitment to exceptional, adaptable support systems, honoring the human condition by meeting newcomers where they’re at," Hannah Holm, who leads the mentorship initiative as part of her work as DSST’s Senior Manager of New Teacher Development, said. "Rather than imposing a one-size-fits-all model, we’ve built the program with nuance and flexibility, creating space for mentors and mentees to forge their own path towards targeting each mentee’s specific growth areas while using their strengths as assets to build with. In doing so, our mentors are providing meaningful, high-leverage support that results in more equitable and joyful learning experiences for our students.”
While our educators already receive robust instructional coaching through our Directors of Curriculum and Instruction (DCIs), this program supplements that support by focusing on:
Our framework is grounded in best practices from educational research, emphasizing:
Through this program, we anticipate that new teachers will:
Most importantly, students will benefit from classrooms led by confident, supported teachers who create more equitable and inclusive learning environments.
Are you passionate about education and looking for a place where your growth and development are prioritized? Explore current career opportunities at DSST and discover how you can join a community committed to eliminating educational inequity while supporting your professional journey every step of the way.