Two retired school administrators have built a mentorship program for administrators in districts across Eastern Oregon through the Oregon Trail Regional Educator Network.
The network connects 21 districts across Morrow, Umatilla, Union and Baker counties. According to Emily Williams, Regional Educator Network Data Specialist with InterMountain Education Service District, the Oregon Trail network mentorship program serves 130 administrators across more than 70 schools.
In Oregon, the Educator Advancement Council funds these networks, distributing grants to each network to spend in their respective regions with the goal of providing high-quality educator preparation and ongoing effective professional learning and supports for educators throughout their careers.
The Oregon Trail Regional Educator Network’s specific goal, Williams said in an email, is that at least 80% of educators in the region will participate in its programming and apply the lessons from their participation to improve their practice and grow professionally.
The mentorship program began after the network surveyed the needs of people in the region and received feedback that they wanted support at all stages of career development. Part-time employees Betty Palmer and Jocelyn Jones lead the coaching. Both worked as administrators in schools in Eastern Oregon before retiring.
“While their program began as a means to provide mentorship on a basic level,” Williams said in a statement, “it has expanded into a robust series designed to provide support to administrators in every stage of their careers.”
Palmer and Jones, whose programming started in 2016, now provide one-on-one administrative coaching, role-based roundtable discussions, facilitated book studies, learning walks, observation and evaluation coaching, on-demand coaching and after-hours dinner gatherings focused on brainstorming solutions to problems administrators face in their work.
Program participants applaud the pair’s work.
“As a first year principal, having a mentor has been invaluable,” said Morgan Rauch, principal of Weston-McEwen High School, in the statement. “Jocelyn has helped me find my bearings in the day-to-day operations as well as develop my own approach to educational leadership. I am a better leader for my school because of Jocelyn’s support and guidance.”
Rauch took over as principal in the 2023-24 school year after serving as vice principal for a year.
“Having a mentor not only gives me someone to tap for advice,” she said, “but also a grounding force to help me lean into my strengths and priorities.”
Local perspectives
It’s helpful to Rauch and other program participants that the mentorship is based in the areas where they work. Local context is better for the mentees as well as the coaches. Williams said rural communities have different needs and folks face different challenges.
“We specifically hired these two mentors because they have extensive experience in multiple districts in our region and lots of years of experience,” Williams said in an interview. “So they kind of know what challenges are going to surface in this line of work.”
Laura Orr, in her second year as Ukiah School District superintendent, has been an active participant in the programming, attending dinner gatherings and roundtable discussions regularly.
Orr said in the release that she appreciated the one-on-one support she has received from Palmer and Jones, as well as the camaraderie and conversation shared with peers during quarterly admin gatherings, hosted by the Oregon Trail Regional Educator Network.
“The more structured training opportunities and (professional learning community) meetings offer useful and needed information and further connections with others in our region,” she said.
A model to follow
The model built by Palmer and Jones has received attention across Oregon because it provides ongoing support to, and has a positive impact on, administrators. The pair was invited to speak at a statewide conference for administrators in January 2024.
There, they presented on why they believe their approach is effective — saying they build relationships and make the programming as relevant, accessible and convenient for busy administrators as possible. Palmer and Jones also shared tips for success, as well as a “Start-Up Guide” for those hoping to replicate the model in their own districts or educator networks.
As a result of their presentation, the two were asked to speak again at a spring conference later this year.
“I don’t think (people) see this robust (of) a program in operation in other places,” Williams said. “And I think just because of the way that it’s expanded, it’s garnered some interest.”
While not new to the role of administration, Ronda Smith, principal of Sherwood Elementary School in Pendleton, said it is still useful to have the coaches to help her solve problems or offer advice.
“Not only do Betty and Jocelyn lead professional development and collaboration and connection events for administrators to support one another with current topics of concern, but also they are a mentor to me in my professional practice,” Smith said in the statement. “I can call either of them at any time and they work to help problem-solve, give advice, or will use their network to find answers for me.”
