Director-to-Director Mentorship Match

Are you a Center Director ready to grow your leadership or support someone else in theirs?

Join a mentorship experience built for early childhood center directors. Support a peer, gain new insights, and strengthen leadership across the field.

Sign up to be a mentor, mentee, or both

What Is the Director-to-Director Mentorship Match?

This initiative connects Center Directors in early childhood education through supportive, one-on-one mentorship relationships. Whether you want to share your leadership experience, gain insight and support, or do both, this initiative gives you the space to grow professionally alongside a trusted peer.

You choose the role that fits you best:

  • Mentors share knowledge, offer guidance, and help shape the next generation of leaders.
  • Mentees receive support, build confidence, and gain new strategies for their role.
  • Those serving as both benefit from giving and receiving support, learning while leading.

This is a relationship-driven experience centered on reflection, growth, and connection. It’s about strengthening leadership in early childhood care through real conversations and mutual support.

Participants will:

  • Build meaningful, peer-to-peer relationships
  • Gain fresh perspectives and leadership strategies
  • Reflect on personal growth and professional goals
  • Share real-world experiences and support a fellow director
  • Contribute to the future of early childhood leadership

Who It’s For

Center Directors across Kansas working in early childhood education are invited to take part in this mentorship match. Whether you’re new to the role or have years of experience, this opportunity is here to support your leadership journey.

You can sign up whenever you’re ready. This is an ongoing initiative; directors are welcome to participate at any time, whenever support, connection, or fresh perspective is needed.

Which Role Is Right for You?

You can participate in the Director-to-Director Mentorship Match as a mentor, a mentee, or both. Here’s what each role looks like:

<strong>Mentor</strong>

This role is ideal if you want to share your experience, support other directors, and give back to the field of early childhood education.
As a mentor, you will:

  • Strengthen your leadership and coaching skills
  • Gain new perspectives and fresh ideas
  • Reflect on your own professional journey and growth
  • Help shape future talent in the field

Your responsibilities as a mentor include:

  • Listening actively and without judgment
  • Providing honest and constructive feedback
  • Offering encouragement and guidance
  • Being available, reliable, and consistent
  • Sharing experiences, not just instructions
<strong>Mentee</strong>

This role is for directors who want to grow as leaders, gain support, and explore new perspectives.
As a mentee, you will:

  • Learn from real-world experience
  • Build confidence and broaden your perspective
  • Expand your professional network and opportunities
  • Receive feedback in a supportive and safe environment

Your responsibilities as a mentee include:

  • Taking initiative and owning your learning
  • Being open to feedback and new ideas
  • Asking questions and seeking clarity
  • Setting goals and following through
  • Respecting your mentor’s time and boundaries
Mentor & Mentee

If you want to both learn from a peer and support another leader, you can choose to be a mentor and a mentee.
In this dual role, you will:

  • Receive mentorship while also offering guidance to someone else
  • Balance learning and leading
  • Build relationships from both sides of the mentorship experience

How to Get Started

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  1. Fill out the interest form
    Let us know if you’d like to participate as a mentor, a mentee, or both. You’ll also share your goals, availability, and any areas you’d like to focus on.
  2. Get matched
    Our Director Support Team will carefully review responses and pair participants based on common goals, experience, and preferred meeting frequency.
  3. Connect with your match
    Once paired, you and your mentoring partner decide how often to meet and what topics to explore together. The mentorship is flexible and designed to fit your schedule and needs.
  4. Start learning and growing together
    Build trust, share ideas, and strengthen your leadership through honest, supportive conversations with a fellow Center Director.
Sign up here

Have questions?

Feel free to reach out! Contact Stephanie Wiggins at stephaniewiggins@ksu.edu for more information about the Director-to-Director Mentorship Match.

Strong leadership starts with strong connections. Let’s grow together.