At Mighty Media, our TeacherTalk forums revealed that many teachers, especially new teachers and student teachers, want extra guidance about lesson plans, teaching techniques, troubleshooting, etc. And we also found that many experienced teachers were happy to help them out. Mighty Mentors can help these teachers connect with each other in informal, one-on-one mentoring partnerships.

You may benefit from having a mentor if you...

• Are a new teacher or a student teacher. If you're new to the classroom, it can help to have the support and guidance of a more experienced teacher.

• Need the advice and support of another teacher. Maybe you'd just like to get some new ideas from another teacher who has taught the same grade or subject. Or maybe you're dealing with challenges in your classroom or school community that you'd like an outside perspective on.

• Are considering a career in teaching. Perhaps you're trying to decide whether teaching is the right career for you. Corresponding with a professional teacher may give you a better idea of what a career in teaching would be like.

• Have at least a couple of years of teaching experience and enjoy what you do. You don't have to be an expert: you just have to be willing to share some of your experience and time with another colleague via email. And mentoring offers benefits to both partners--you can learn from your mentee, too.

• Are a retired teacher. Mentoring a younger colleague via email can be a great way to pass on experience and insight you've acquired during your teaching career.