Administrator induction

I really enjoyed the mock interview experience. One idea that kept crossing my mind was the topic of administrative induction. I would be hesitant to accept a job from a district lacking an induction/mentoring program for administrators. The analogy that comes to mind is handing over the keys of an 18 wheeler to a teenager who just completed driver education. No matter how well you are prepared for administration “academically”, there are always the “unknowns” or the real life experiences that creep up and throw you for a loop. For me, the ideal first administrative position will be in a building with an administrative team. I really enjoyed my shadowing experiences and my sub experiences in my school’s main office because of the novel situations encountered and the expert support that was readily available. It was an empowering experience to be a member on an administrative team providing perspective and receiving perspective. The actual experiences foster professional growth but the teaming allows you to grow from a meta-cognitive standpoint. This is critical. Even if the team is not located in the same building, it would be helpful if a district mentor was assigned, at least during the first year as a new administrator.