New Mentoring Program Targets Middle Schoolers
Feb. 14, 2005A new type of mentoring program is being launched in the Wake County Public School System partnering adults with students in grades 4-8. MentorNet will recruit, train and support volunteers willing to make a two-year, weekly commitment to a child.
The program, funded by a three-year federal grant, seeks to recruit up to 100 mentors to work one-on-one with students mainly at schools. MentorNet will expand mentoring services to more children and youth, develop new program opportunities and provide extensive support and training for mentors and students
"MentorNet can make a difference," said Superintendent Bill McNeal. "Children can succeed if they know that someone really cares about them. When adults devote this kind of time and attention to them, children will respond. We would like to see all students completing high school and developing their full potential. MentorNet will encourage that."
MentorNet goals are to improve student achievement by providing students who are on the brink of success with high quality, school-based mentoring relationships. Volunteers will help children shift their goals, so they will be improving academically, graduating from high school and planning for college. The program will encourage leadership skills, community service, and safe schools.
MentorNet will be working with colleges, businesses, professional associations, faith-based groups and government agencies to recruit and identify volunteers. Each match will be unique to their match's interests, skills and needs. Mentors will be asked to commit to spending an average of two hours per week with their student for two years. They will share their work experiences in discussions, visiting places of work, touring college campuses and searching the Internet for career information. Activities will focus on interpersonal skills, academic enrichment, cultural enrichment, and literacy development.
Mentors will be carefully screened and provided training. They will take part in follow up training discussions and group activities
WCPSS will partner with Wake County Human Services, EdStar, ReEntry, Inc., Cisco, the Poe Health Center and WakeMed in developing the program. Additional partners may join the program. An Advisory Committee, including parents and students will be responsible for improving the coordination of resources, developing new opportunities for mentoring and expanding mentoring services to more children and youth. There will be extensive evaluation of the program. Analysis will be used to inform continuous improvement cycles.
Ann Rollins is the program's coordinator. Rollins has been an active parent leader, a past President of the Wake County PTA Council, a member of the board of Wake Education Partnership, a school PTA president, a member of the Board of Education's Community Relations Committee and a member of the WCPSS Community Use of Facilities Committee. Rollins has worked as a microbiologist at WakeMed for 25 years and serves on the board for the Poe Health Center.
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