Mentors

One possible origin of the concept of mentor is the Odyssey, where it is discussed in terms of the role an older person might play in relation to a protégé. However, the relationship between mentors and protégés can be understood differently across circumstances and contexts. Correspondingly, mentoring roles have been conceptualized differently in different professions and types of organizations. Nevertheless, with few exceptions, in the field of education, a mentor is typically understood to refer to an experienced teacher in the same subject area who helps new teachers adjust to the teaching [Page 854]environment and supports them to succeed in the profession, especially during the early years of their career.