Out of the more than 150 school districts throughout Mississippi, the Mississippi Association of School Superintendents chose only about 20 superintendents to serve as this year’s mentors for incoming superintendents.
So as one of the few chosen for the mentor program, Petal School District Superintendent Matt Dillon is pretty excited to share his knowledge and experience with someone beginning to learn the position.
“I think it’s an honor that I was selected to share my experience, and I think it’s important for me to give back to others,” Dillon said. “I’ve had some unique experiences in my career.
“I’m going into my fifth year at Petal, and the success we’ve had is because of the great people we have here. I think there are some things that I’ll be able to share with that (new superintendent), and hopefully the students in that district will be better for it.”
As a mentor, Dillon will be paired with an incoming superintendent from a nearby school district, who will be named in the near future. Dillon and that individual will take part in video conversations, one-on-one personal meetings and phone calls to address procedures, issues and protocol for the position.
“So that new superintendent can ask questions, or have someone they can talk to and brainstorm with,” Dillon said. “It’s so somebody can be there to help them in that position, because sometimes it’s tough, and you maybe don’t have anybody in your own district that you can go to that has experienced (certain issues).
“So it’s good to have somebody that you can pick up the phone and call real quick if you have a situation, or something that maybe one of us has experienced before. They try to partner you with somebody in a similar-sized district, and somebody with similar personality traits and things like that.”
Mentors will be introduced to and meet for the first time with their mentees in September.
“We really haven’t got all the logistics of it – we’re still going through the training,” Dillon said. “But it’ll be the video conversations and where that individual can pick up the phone at any time and call.
“I’m sure there will be site visits, where I might go to that individual’s school district, or that person may come to our school district, so they can see how it works in person. More than anything, it’s just having somebody there for them in this position – as it’s going to be new to that individual – so that we can assist and help and support each other.”
