Originally published in TEACH Magazine, September/October 2025 Issue
By Hoda Ahmed
Excited? Absolutely. Overwhelmed? Without a doubt.
As a first-year Faculty of Education student, I was experiencing the full spectrum of emotions that come with balancing coursework and student teaching placements. The transition into teaching involved navigating a steep learning curve, and while I would soon realize that being a teacher involves so much more, my initial focus—like many new teachers—was on mastering the mechanics: lesson planning, classroom management, and family communication.
That’s when I discovered The Mentoree—a community that would not only guide me through these challenges, but ultimately reshape the trajectory of my teaching career.
Hoda Ahmed has been teaching in Ontario for five years, in the Primary and Junior divisions. She is deeply passionate about mentorship and fostering meaningful connections with her students and colleagues.
