Why Mentors Must Be Marigolds

by Rob Cruxon

Teacher of Science and ATTI Fellow  |  Sutton Community Academy

As a teacher, I often find myself diving into educational blogs – some resonate with me, others challenge my views. The best ones make me pause and reflect on the nuances of the profession. My latest read comes from Jennifer Gonzalez, the chief editor of the blog, “Cult of Pedagogy”.

The topic in this blog is the idea of marigolds and walnut trees. Both of these plant species affect their neighbouring plants when they grow.  Marigolds are commonly used as companion plants by gardeners, they help the growth of the surrounding plants. Walnut trees, on the other hand, release chemicals into the soil that suppress and inhibit the growth of other plants.

This is a metaphor for the workplace. The marigolds are the positive, energetic nurturing staff who help others to grow. Others are like walnut trees. Spending time with a walnut tree results in you feeling drained of energy and enthusiasm.

It is clear that this is a spectrum of behaviours, and we all occupy a place on the walnut/marigold scale, and it’s not static.  There are days when we might be more walnut, feeling drained at the end of a long term, feeling overwhelmed by work pressures or if we are surrounded by other walnuts.

The Cult of Pedagogy blog encourages new teachers to go and find themselves a marigold, to support their growth during the important early years of their career.

For me, after reading this blog, I felt reinvigorated and reminded of the power of mentorship. It’s not just about guiding others through the technical aspects of teaching—it’s about nurturing their growth, supporting their well-being, and modelling the kind of educator we hope they will become. I left the post with a renewed commitment to being more marigold.

Who are your marigolds? And how can you be one for someone else?