Lauren Kaufman is a K-12 Mentor Coordinator in Long Island, N.Y. Her vision and journey is grounded in developing a strong foundation for new educators through an innovative, supportive Mentor Program that cultivates the next generation of teacher leaders and encourages them to embark on long, meaningful careers. Participants in the program learn meaningful and authentic strategies that will support and develop powerful professional learning communities within a school organization in physical and virtual spaces. These PLCs will ultimately become the hub of learning, professional growth, and will significantly impact the culture and student learning outcomes within a school community. Additionally, educators discover how utilizing the philosophies of great professional books such as The Innovator’s Mindset: Empower Learning, Unleash Talent, and Lead a Culture of Creativity by George Couros and Personal & Authentic: Designing Learning Experiences That Will Impact a Lifetime by Thomas C. Murray establish a strong framework for the program’s success. These experiences empower new teachers and their mentors to successfully embrace the importance of developing strong collaborative relationships, value becoming connected and networked educators, expand their PLN, and elevate teaching and learning practices that will ultimately benefit the social, emotional, and academic growth for all learners. It is her mission to create an inclusive environment, elevate the stakeholders within the organization, as well as bring other voices from outside of the organization who can add different perspectives to our learning community.

-Follow the #LBLeads hashtag to see the digital footprint of the program!

-Follow the @LBMentorProgram Twitter handle!

-Check out the #LBLeads Mentor Program 2019-2020 Page

-Check out the #LBLeads Mentor Program 2020-2021 Page