Mentors In
School
Mentors
In School
Originally Developed by Karen Luhrs
Guidance Counselor Fort Johnson Middle School
James Island, South Carolina
~ Mentors in School ~
The Origin of Mentoring
The Greek storyteller Homer tells of Odysseus, the King of Ithaca. In this tale, Odysseus asked his friend Mentor to watch over his son Telemachus while he fought in the Trojan War. Mentor was a faithful friend of Odysseus who was left behind on Ithaca as Telemachus' tutor; he was wise, sober, and loyal. Telemachus was just entering manhood and was very self-conscious about his duty and his father's reputation as a hero, which he felt he must live up to. In this classic tale you can see that mentoring is one of the oldest forms of influence. Mentoring as a tool can be a powerful and popular way for people to gain personal and professional skills.
~ Mentors in School ~
Famous People Who Have Served as Mentors
Paul Major - mentor to Picabo Street
Uta Hagen - mentor to Jack Lemmon
Jack Lemmon mentor - to Kevin Spacey
Lucille Ball - mentor to Carole Cook
Hank Aaron - mentor to Dusty Baker
Jim Leyland - mentor to Barry Bonds
John F. Kennedy (35th President) - mentor to Rey Carr
Richard Nixon (37th President) - mentor to George Bush (41st
President)
Robert Squier - mentor to Al Gore (former Vice-President)
William Fulbright - mentor to Bill Clinton (42nd President)
Ronald Reagan (40th President) - mentor to Christine Todd
Whitman
~ Mentors in School ~
Advantages of Mentoring for Employers and Employees
Employers have seen employees bond, thus making the
work environment better for all. Mentoring helps companies see firsthand how the schools
are trying to prepare students for the future. The employers have the opportunity to offer ideas on what is
needed in today’s workplace. Companies increase their community involvement. The relationship between the student and the mentor may
sometimes lead to a job offer or the development of other useful contacts.
~ Mentors in School ~
Research Based Benefits of Mentoring
Students who are mentored are:
46% less likely to use drugs
27% less likely to use alcohol
53% less likely to skip school
37% less likely to skip class
33% less likely to hit someone
(Big Brothers/Big Sisters of America,1995)
Evidence that mentoring works:
73% of mentored students said mentors helped raise
their goals and expectations
59% of mentored students improved their grades
(Louis Harris Poll,1989)
Mentoring encourages students to:
Stay in school
Attend classes
Go to college
(Proctor & Gamble,1988)
~ Mentors in School ~
Students who were mentored showed improvement in:
School-related behavior Self-confidence Personal skills
(Temple University,1994)
Students who are mentored tend to:
Graduate from high school Enroll in college Be less likely to receive welfare or food stamps Have fewer arrests Become involved in community service
(The Quantum Opportunities Program,1989-1991)
~ Mentors in School ~
Relationship Reminders It is our desire to help each student in every way we can. This includes trying to give them an understanding of what the “real world” is like. Some students have the misconception that whatever they wear is acceptable. We believe that, as role models, we must let students know that certain clothing styles are inappropriate or send the wrong message. Over time, as the mentor gets to know the student better, some of the areas that may be tactfully addressed include:
Excessively baggy pants Extreme Gothic looks Extreme un-natural hair color Extremely short dresses or shorts Tight fitting clothing Garments with inappropriate or offensive language Revealing apparel
We want our students to have their own identity, but we want them to understand what will be expected of them when they enter the workforce.
~ Mentors in School ~
Benefits to the Students
Responsible, caring adults can make a lasting impact as mentors when they help students to: Build academic, social, and emotional skills
Improve academic grades
Increase aspirations and academic confidence
Decrease at-risk factors for dropping out of school Make “impressive” gains in school attendance
Foster resiliency or strength in the face of adversity
Improve self-esteem
Develop a sense of hope and purpose
Expand career awareness
Develop life and employability skills
Discover and develop talents
Improve peer relations
~ Mentors in School ~
A Year’s Worth of Mentoring As appropriate, the mentor and his/her student may:
Set goals together Tackle some homework Make popcorn and talk Shoot some hoops Go to the library together Just hang out Learn about pop music Talk about life Talk about your very first job Talk about planning a career Plan a career Get together with friends from your work Talk about college Have your friends talk about college Work on applications together Explore financial aid options Work on a resume Talk about dressing for success Do a pretend interview Talk about how to look for a job Talk about where to look for a job Find a summer job Set up a work internship
~ Mentors in School ~
Talk about networking Talk about what it takes to get ahead Talk about health insurance Talk about taxes Talk about balancing work and life Talk about balancing a checkbook Talk about balancing a budget Talk about living within one’s means Talk about credit cards Plan a week’s worth of meals Write “thank you” notes Celebrate a friend’s religious holiday Talk about relationships Talk about personal values Talk about the future
~ Mentors in School ~
A Mentor’s role
What a mentor is:
A guide
A friend
A listener
A coach
A responsive adult
A wise and trusted friend
Someone who cares
Someone who has been
there
Someone to help get the
student where they want
to be
What a Mentor is not:
A savior
A foster parent
A therapist
A parole officer
A “cool” peer
An ATM machine
A movie pass
A chauffeur
A nag
~ Mentors in School ~
Mentor Visit Reminders Appearance
Wear clean and comfortable clothes. If you choose to wear jewelry or makeup, try to keep
it understated. Attitude
Be willing and eager to talk; be willing and eager to listen.
Be honest. Look at the student when speaking to him or her.
Behavior
Take a pen and paper with you in case you want to jot down something.
Greet the student by name. Thank the student for his or her time and attention.
Conversation
Don’t be nervous about pauses in the conversation; these are natural.
Avoid one-word answers.
~ Mentors in School ~
Internet Reference Sites College
www.fastweb.com www.college-scholarships.com www.scholarstuff.com www.ed.gov/thinkcollege www.collegeispossible.org www.scholarstuff.com www.collegeboard.com www.usnews.com/usnews/edu/
Reading www.latimes.com www.washingtonpost.com
Sports www.allsports.com www.sportsline.com
Resumes www.teenresumes.com
Information www.highbeam.com www.encarta.com www.biography.com
Space www.nasa.gov
General Interest www.moviephone.com www.film.com
Internet Reference Sites www.bbbs.org www.mentorcounselor.com www.mentoring.org www.mentoringusa.org www.ppv.org www.scattorneygeneral.com
Links are provided as a reference and for informational purposes for the mentor. District Five Schools does not endorse any of the above listed internet sites.
~ Mentors in School ~
District Five School Contacts
If you are interested in obtaining more information concerning mentoring or other ways that you can be a part of one of our schools, please contact any of the schools listed below: Abner Creek Elementary School (grades K-4) Wendy Bralley (949-2334) Duncan Elementary School (grades K-4) Debbie Kelly (949-2373) Lyman Elementary School (grades K-4) Terri Pate (949-2330) Reidville Elementary School (grades K-4) Kim Deering (949-2388) River Ridge Elementary School (grades K-4) Kate Johnson (949-7620) Wellford Elementary School (grades K-4) Katie Kinard (949-2385) Beech Springs Intermediate School (grades 5-6) Kim Henderson (949-7600) Berry Shoals Intermediate School (grades 5-6) Amy Kitts (949-2300) Florence Chapel Middle School (grades 7-8) John Boehm (949-2310) D. R. Hill Middle School (grades 7-8) Nicole Mason (949-2370) James F. Byrnes Freshman Academy (grade 9) Douglas Brister (949-2320) James F. Byrnes High School (grades 9-12) Rubye Calhoun (949-2355)
~ Mentors in School ~
"We need to make sure that no boy or girl in America is growing up without having in his or her life the presence of a responsible, caring adult. Where else does a child learn how to behave? Where else does a child learn the experience of the past, the totems and traditions of the past? Where else does a child look for the proper examples except from responsible, caring, loving adults in his or her life?"
Founding Chairman,
General Colin L. Powell For additional information on how you can help to mentor a child in District Five Schools, contact:
Rick Kalk, Director of Career Education, Business Partnerships and Assessment 949-2350 [email protected]
or check out the District Five web site at:
http://www.spart5.net
Discrimination of all persons is prohibited with regard to employment and any other program or activity on the basis of race, creed, color, natural origin, religion, sex, age, or handicap in District Five Schools of Spartanburg County as required by Title IX of the Educational Amendments Act of 1972, Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, the Age Discrimination Act of 1975, and the Civil Rights Act of 1964 as amended. Section 504 Coordinator, Maureen Kriese; Title IX Coordinator, Scott Turner.
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