Great teachers do not develop in isolation. They grow through experience, collaboration, mentorship, and the opportunity to learn alongside other great educators.
Hemlock Public School District is continuing its investment in teacher growth and development through Michigan’s 27h Mentoring and Induction grant funding, creating meaningful opportunities for new and developing educators to learn directly from experienced colleagues while strengthening a culture of professional collaboration throughout the district.
The initiative provides additional support for educators during some of the most important years of their careers. Through mentoring, classroom observation, professional collaboration, and teacher shadowing, Hemlock is connecting newer teachers with veteran educators who have years of knowledge, experience, and successful classroom practice to share.
Veteran Hemlock educators including Kyle Wilkowski, Tammy Grandy, Tiffany Green, and Donna Shantz, among others, are helping support colleagues through mentoring relationships designed to go beyond simply answering questions. The goal is to provide new educators with trusted colleagues they can learn from, collaborate with, and turn to as they develop their own instructional practices.
A key component of Hemlock's work through the grant is teacher shadowing.
Rather than limiting professional development to meetings or presentations, newer educators have opportunities to spend time inside the classrooms of experienced teachers. They can observe instruction in action, see different classroom management approaches, examine student engagement strategies, and gain practical insight into the countless decisions effective teachers make throughout a school day.
“Our goal is to make sure our new teachers feel supported while also giving them opportunities to learn from the incredible experience we already have within Hemlock,” said Lindy Beckman, Director of Curriculum and Instruction. “There is tremendous value in seeing effective teaching in action and having someone you can turn to for guidance, questions, and ideas. We have outstanding educators throughout this district, and this program creates intentional opportunities for teachers to learn from one another and grow together. Ultimately, our students are the ones who benefit.”
The district also views mentoring and induction as an important part of recruiting, developing, and retaining high-quality educators. Entering the teaching profession can be challenging, and Hemlock is working to ensure new staff members know they are not expected to navigate those challenges alone.
“Hiring a great teacher is only the beginning. We also have a responsibility to help that individual grow, succeed, and see a future here,” said Denise Dowdell, Director of Business Operations and Human Resources. “Our veteran teachers have an incredible amount of knowledge to share. Creating the time and structure for those relationships to develop is an investment in our employees, our organization, and the long-term strength of our district.”
The initiative also recognizes that professional learning works both ways. While veteran educators provide experience and perspective, newer teachers bring fresh ideas, new approaches, and enthusiasm into those relationships. The result is a professional culture where learning is not defined by years of service, but by a shared commitment to becoming better.
“Investing in our teachers is an investment in our students,” said Dr. Don Killingbeck, Superintendent of Hemlock Public School District. “Some of the very best professional development available to us is already happening every day inside classrooms across our district. We have tremendous educators with decades of experience, and we have talented newer teachers who are eager to learn and grow. When we intentionally connect those people, everybody gets better. That is how you build capacity and strengthen an organization for the future.”
The work aligns with Hemlock Public School District's broader commitment to innovation, collaboration, and continuous improvement. The district believes strong schools are built not only by recruiting talented people, but by creating an environment where those people are supported, challenged, and given opportunities to continue developing throughout their careers.
For newer educators, that means having someone to call when they have a question, classrooms they can visit when they want to see another approach, and experienced colleagues willing to share both what has worked and what they have learned along the way.
For veteran teachers, it provides an opportunity to share years of professional knowledge and help shape the next generation of educators.
For students, it means having teachers who are continually learning from one another and improving their craft.
Through the 27h Mentoring and Induction grant, Hemlock Public School District is investing in more than a professional development program. It is investing in relationships, people, and a culture where educators help one another succeed.
Because when teachers grow together, students benefit.
Hemlock Public School District
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