"During my first year of teaching I was fortunate enough to have two mentors, both of whom have now become friends. The first was assigned to me as part of my school's New Teacher Care program. He was wonderful and worked with me once a week for the entire first year. We also communicated on email when it was just beginning to be used, which actually helped me to feel comfortable with technology, too. My other mentor was my next-door neighbor, whom I really hadn't known too well until I started teaching. She was a fifteen-year veteran teacher at another school and in another content area, but her support and suggestions really helped me when I was feeling overwhelmed. We became close over that first year and are now working at the same school. I don't know what I would have done without these two wonderful people when I was starting out. I strongly urge all new teachers to find a mentor somehow!"                            Amelia, 12 years teaching middle school