Find Your George: Why Every New Teacher Needs a Mentor

DocHolbrook
Aug 24
5 min read

Because the lessons that shape us aren’t found in textbooks—

they’re passed down from those who’ve been there before.

Doc Holbrook 20 years ago in her first classroom, with her first mentor, George.

As schools buzz back to life each fall, social media fills with teachers posting their grade levels, classrooms, and years of experience. But what about the brand-new teachers—the ones walking into their first classroom for the very first time?

I still remember my first teaching job: a 4th grade integrated classroom in a high-needs, inner-city school. I was 22, fresh out of college, and completely unprepared. My students knew it too. They ignored me, talked over me, and every hallway walk felt like chaos waiting to happen. I dreaded the first fire drill—visions of Arnold Schwarzenegger in Kindergarten Cop haunted my sleep.

What really crushed me was how differently my students behaved with the special education teacher who I co-taught with part-time. The second he entered the room, the chaos stopped. The kids were focused, ready, respectful. By simply walking in the room, he accomplished in seconds what I struggled to accomplish all morning.

Every day at lunch, I called my mom—a veteran teacher - in tears. I tried everything she suggested, but nothing worked. Finally, she said, “Sarah, you have two choices: you can quit, or you can ask that man to help you.”

Asking him for help was the last thing I wanted to do. To me, it felt like admitting defeat. But I knew my mom was right, I was never going to survive this year without help. So, I swallowed my pride, walked across the playground, sat down at the picnic table next to him, and said the hardest words of my young career:

“I need help.”

Without missing a beat, he replied,

“I know. I was waiting for you to come. We start Monday.”

That man was George—and he became my first mentor.

Why Mentors Matter

I share this story with every college class I teach for two reasons:

There was a time when I didn’t know what I was doing.
It’s always okay to ask for help.

In fact, in teaching, asking for help isn’t optional—it’s essential. Every school is its own ecosystem. Even within the same district, one building can feel completely different from another. New teachers need someone who knows the rhythms of the school, the unspoken rules, and the practical tricks that only come from experience.

A mentor can teach you the things you’ll never find in a textbook:

How to redirect a restless class without raising your voice.
The best way to handle a tricky parent phone call.
When it’s okay to knock on the principal’s door—and when to wait.
How to set boundaries without losing students’ trust.

For me, George taught classroom management in the truest sense: not just keeping order but building respect. He showed me that no one can learn if they’re

not listening, and no one will listen if they don’t believe you care.

The Legacy of George

It’s been 20 years since that first year. Those students are now in their 30s, and George is retired. But I still remember him—and that class—as if it were yesterday. His wisdom became the foundation of my teaching philosophy: relationships first, connection before content.

Even now, as I coach teachers and lead professional development, I find myself repeating George’s words and lessons. His mentorship didn’t just save my first year; it shaped the way I teach, lead, and mentor others.

And that’s the beauty of mentorship in education: its impact ripples outward. The lessons George gave me didn’t stop with me—they’ve touched every student I’ve taught, and every teacher I’ve trained.

Advice for New Teachers

So, to every novice teacher stepping into their first classroom: find your George. Find the colleague who can guide you, model for you, and remind you that you’re not alone. Mentorship doesn’t always come wrapped in a formal title—sometimes your assigned mentor is wonderful, and sometimes you may need to seek out someone else. Look for the teacher who commands respect with ease, the one other staff members go to with questions, the one students seem to trust.

What matters isn’t the label; it’s the relationship. The best mentors don’t give you quick fixes—they walk beside you as you figure it out. They’ll model how to redirect a class without losing your cool, how to build trust with families, and how to balance compassion with high expectations. They’ll remind you that bad days don’t define you, and that every teacher—no matter how seasoned—has had lessons flop and days they wish they could redo.

The key is to be willing to ask, to listen, and to learn. Pride won’t get you through that first year, but humility and openness will. And remember: you don’t have to know it all to be a great teacher. You just need to be willing to grow.

Because here’s the truth: no curriculum, no college course, no social media hack can prepare you for everything that teaching requires. You can read about classroom management, child development, and lesson design—but until you’ve stood in front of a room full of students on a snowy Friday afternoon, you don’t really know what teaching feels like. That’s where mentors come in.

A mentor bridges the gap between theory and practice. They help you translate what you learned in your coursework into what actually works with your students. They help you move from simply surviving—checking the boxes, making it through each day—to thriving, finding joy in the chaos and confidence in your craft.

They’ll also pass down the “hidden curriculum” of teaching—the unwritten rules no syllabus ever covers:

How to handle the student who suddenly melts down after recess.
What to say when a parent corners you at dismissal.
How to protect your planning time, your energy, and your heart.

Those are the lessons that make or break a first year, and they can’t be found in textbooks. They come from people—mentors—who’ve walked the path before you and are willing to light the way.

I found my George—and it changed the course of my career. My hope is that you find yours.

Sarah's Top 5 Tips for Teachers

✨ 1. Relationships, Relationships, Relationships

At every stage of your career—whether you’re brand new or a veteran—teaching comes down to relationships. Build trust with your students, your colleagues, and your community. Strong connections are the foundation of great teaching.

✨ 2. Listen First, Talk Second

As teachers, it’s easy to jump in with answers, directions, or corrections. But the most powerful classroom moments often start when we pause to really listen—listening to our students, their questions, their concerns, and their stories. When students feel heard, they are more willing to engage and learn.

✨ 3. Lead by Example

Model the behavior you want to see—respect, responsibility, and consistency. Students (and colleagues) notice when you practice what you preach. Integrity and consistency speak louder than words.

✨ 4. Be Present and Dependable

Show up—in your classroom for your students, in meetings with your colleagues, and in your commitments. Be on time, be engaged, and do what you say you’re going to do. Presence builds trust, and trust fuels growth.

✨ 5. Take the Profession Seriously

Teaching is one of the most important professions in the world. It’s not about summers off—it’s about preparing the future. Take pride in your work, honor the responsibility, and remember that every day you walk into a classroom, you’re shaping lives.

Remember—you don’t have to do this alone. Lean on your support systems—mentors, colleagues, friends, and family—because teaching is a team effort. I believe in you, and I wish you the very best as you step into a new school year. You were chosen for this job for a reason. You became a teacher because you have something unique to give and never forget—you are shaping the future every single day. You’ve got this!

See you next Sunday!