How do you avoid or manage dual relationships in teacher mentoring?

1 Identify potential dual relationships

The first step is to identify any existing or potential dual relationships that you may have with your mentee. This includes considering your personal, professional, and social ties with your mentee, as well as any other factors that may influence your relationship, such as culture, gender, age, or religion. You can use a self-assessment tool, such as the Ethical Decision-Making Model for Teacher Mentors, to help you evaluate your situation and identify any risks or benefits of dual relationships.

3 Respect confidentiality and privacy

The third step is to respect your mentee's confidentiality and privacy, as well as your own. Confidentiality means that you do not disclose any information that your mentee shares with you in the context of mentoring, unless you have their consent or there is a legal or ethical obligation to do so. Privacy means that you do not intrude into your mentee's personal or professional life, unless they invite you or there is a legitimate reason to do so. You should also protect your own confidentiality and privacy by not sharing your personal or professional details with your mentee, unless they are relevant and appropriate for the mentoring purpose.

4 Seek supervision and support

The fourth step is to seek supervision and support from other professionals or experts who can help you navigate dual relationships and ethical dilemmas. Supervision is the process of receiving feedback, guidance, and advice from someone who has more experience or knowledge in mentoring or in your field of practice. Support is the process of receiving emotional, social, or practical assistance from someone who can empathize, listen, or help you cope with stress or challenges. You can seek supervision and support from a mentor coordinator, a peer mentor, a counselor, or a colleague.

5 Monitor and evaluate your relationship

The fifth step is to monitor and evaluate your mentoring relationship regularly, especially if you have a dual relationship with your mentee. Monitoring means that you pay attention to the signs and signals that indicate how your relationship is progressing, such as the quality of your communication, the level of trust, the degree of satisfaction, and the achievement of goals. Evaluating means that you assess the impact and outcomes of your relationship, such as the benefits and challenges, the strengths and weaknesses, and the areas for improvement. You can use tools such as surveys, feedback forms, journals, or reflections to help you monitor and evaluate your relationship.

6 Terminate or modify your relationship

The sixth and final step is to terminate or modify your mentoring relationship when it is no longer effective, appropriate, or healthy. Terminating means that you end your relationship formally and respectfully, by acknowledging the achievements, expressing gratitude, providing closure, and maintaining contact if desired. Modifying means that you change your relationship to suit the new circumstances, by renegotiating the boundaries, goals, roles, and expectations. You should terminate or modify your relationship when there is a conflict of interest, a loss of trust, a lack of progress, or a change in status.