
Feature/General
Mentoring: Every Child is a Success Story Waiting
to Happen
Contributing Writers
Trudy Bradley and Kirk Smith
January/February 2006
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"I was introduced to my
mentee outside her classroom door - and my life was changed!
The Mentor Program is so revered in her school that there
was an immediate bond between us. She introduced me to everyone
we met on a tour of the school grounds by proudly stating
'This is my mentor.' Just by being there for her, I was accepted
unconditionally."
Nancy Vandergrift, mentor |
In 1989, the Public Education
Committee of the Athens Area Chamber of Commerce began studying
drop out prevention in the Clarke County School District. Committee
members wondered how they could make a positive impact on the long
term success of young people in our schools.
From these discussions, the Clarke County Mentor Program was
born. Launched in 1991, the program pairs trained community volunteers
with area school children and is designed to reach students who
show potential, but may need a little extra attention and guidance.
Since it was piloted with only 30 mentors, the program has enjoyed
tremendous growth and astonishing success. There are now around
700 mentors throughout every school in the Clarke County School
District.
Anyone who follows a mentor through the halls of an area elementary
school will quickly see that what could have easily been a stigma
(how many kids do you know who want to hang out with adults?) has
become a privilege. And according to reports from all sides - teachers,
administrators, mentors, parents and students - it's a win win
situation.
"AI hear so many positive stories of the change this program
has made in kids of all ages.
I hear it from parents, from teachers and from the mentors themselves,"
says Trudy Bradley, director of the Clarke County Mentor Program.
"These are people working hard to make a positive difference and
give these young people the opportunity to reach their dreams."
The Mentor Program has gained not only tremendous respect in
the Athens area but is also seen as a model for other programs
throughout the state. It is an example of what a grass roots group
of concerned citizens can do to ease the road to academic and personal
success for public school students. It is also proof of how much
difference people can make when they have a common goal that they
work towards with enthusiasm.
Who
can be a mentor? |
Any person dedicated enough to spend the time
it takes to make a positive difference in the life of a child
is eligible. The program requires that each mentor attend a
two hour training session, have a police background check performed,
and have the desire and commitment to work with their student
each month. |
What is the Mentor's
commitment? |
Mentors make a one year commitment, though
many of the mentors remain with their students for far longer
than that (some of the original mentors are still with the
same student even after 14 years). |
"The desire to be actively involved, the dedication to the
individual achievement of their student, and the dependability
of the mentors speaks eloquently for our community," continues
Trudy. "It is our vision as an organization that this program will
grow each year setting an example for other communities to follow
and inspiring young people in our community to excel."
The Mentor Program is not a tutorial program. It is designed
to pair caring adults with students on a one to one basis to act
as friends, listeners, role models, advocates, etc. Though many
of the mentors may soon begin helping their student with class
work and homework that is not the initial priority of the program.
With the success of the program over the last 14 years, you might
ask how many mentors are still needed in the school system. "We
would love to see one for every kid," says Trudy. "Of course that
is not realistic, but we do have a waiting list of children who
want mentors. Recruiting mentors has always been our focus. The
need is there and the difference one person can make is immeasurable."
Kirk Smith, a member of the program's steering committee
and longtime mentor, concurs. "I've been a mentor to the same young
man since he was a fourth grader. He is now 24 years old working
here in Athens and I have seen him grow and mature into a good
natured, good hearted young man. Though we are very different people,
we almost instantly became good friends and remain so to this day.
We have helped each other become better people, we have shared
a lot of terrific experiences and I have seen him grow up and become
a polite, thoughtful, reliable person. I take a lot of pride in
what he has become and as long as he would like for me to be his
mentor, I will continue to do so. What better way to influence
a young person than by committing yourself to them on a one-on-one
basis. And what better way to take part in the community in a way
that truly works."
To find out more about becoming a mentor in the Clarke County
School district, call (706) 549-6800 and ask for Trudy Bradley
or Terry Baez.
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