Established August 2010

“Too often we underestimate the power of a touch, a smile, a kind word, a listening ear, an honest compliment, or the smallest act of caring, all of which have the potential to turn a life around.” –Leo Buscaglia

Three years ago our school embarked on a collaborative project called Mission Mentors. Mission Mentors was initiated in order to engage our entire community in building special one-on-one relationships between responsible adult volunteers and students.

Why…

Need for a mentoring program… Children from single parent homes Not enough one-on-one attention at

home Struggling with school work Low self esteem Behavior problems Children that just need a friend…

Our Mission Statement: We want to engage our entire

community in providing opportunities that allow all children to be the best they can be by building special one on one relationships between a responsible adult volunteer and a child.

Goals: To build connections with children. To build self-esteem, self motivation and

self-determination in the children.

Goals: To establish relationships that enable

children to discuss educational concerns with a mentor.

Goals: To help children become aware of, avoid

and overcome problems that can cause young people to act in negative or destructive ways.

Goals: To improve classroom participation and

the academic success of children.

Responsibilities of School Based Mentors: Grades 1-5 Spend one hour per week with the child. Mentor during school hours at the

school.

Responsibilities of Community Based Mentors Grades 6-12 Interact with student at least three times

per month. Mentor after school hours through

suggested activities. Mentoring takes place outside of school

hours.

Recruitment of Mentors Find sources of mentors:

ChurchesLarge EmployersCivic OrganizationsSchool EmployeesBoard of DirectorsReferrals from existing mentors and board

of directors.

Mentee Referrals Referrals from Teachers and Principals

Referrals from Parents

How Mission Mentors Began.. Observed Other Mentor Programs

Established a Board of Directors

Spread the word about Mission Mentors

How Mission Mentors Began.. Developed Paperwork

Guidebooks for School Based and Community Based Programs

Guidebooks for ParentsMentor ApplicationsMentee Referral FormsParent Letters

All paperwork is on missionmentors.com

How Mission Mentors Began.. Recruited Mentors

Applications and Background Checks Collected Mentee Referrals

From Teachers/Parents Collected Parent Permission Forms

How Mission Mentors Began.. Mentor Orientation

Ruby Payne Seminaro Mentor Kickoff

Parents, Mentor, and Mentees

Funding: Private Donations Fundraiser Dinner

Meal before a home football game

“Supervision of the match was the program practice most associated with close mentoring relationships. Mentors and their mentees met at the highest rates in programs that provided regular supervision, and at the lowest rates when such supervision was lacking or inadequate.”

Mentoring: A Promising Strategy for Youth Development

By Child Trends

Match Support Specialist

Match Support Specialist Monthly Updates from Mentors and

Parents New Matches During Summer and

School Year Paperwork

Referral FormsParent Permission FormsMentor Applications/Background Checks

Match Support Specialist Provide individual training and support

to mentors, parents, and mentees.

Match Support Specialist Monthly Calendar Updates on School Activities Absent Students Websitewww.mission mentors.com

Match Support Specialist Develop strategic interventions to

identify and strengthen match relationships that require extra support to continue to grow.

Match Support Specialist Perform yearly surveys with mentors,

parents, mentees, and teachers. (surveymonkey.com)

Assist in planning activities throughout the year.KickoffsFundraiserMentor Appreciation DaysMentor Banquet

Where We Are Today!... 85 Matches (170 people total)

More are added every month

Where we are today!.. After two years of mentor-mentee

relationships, the results have been astounding.

Teachers have commented that the students with mentors are HAPPIER!.

Where we are today!... Teacher surveys indicate that 86% saw

an improvement with mentees’ self-esteem, self motivation, and self-determination.

Where we are today!... 80% of teachers saw improvement in

regards to classroom participation and academic success of the mentees.

Where we are today!... Over 77% of teachers noticed significant

improvement in mentee attendance

68% felt students had established relationships that allowed them to discuss concerns with a mentor.

Where we are today!... Over 73% of teachers said Mission

Mentors helped build connections between mentors and the parents of the mentees.

Mentor Of The Year

Where we are today! Comments from our teachers… “The smile on these children’s faces is

enough to know that having a mentor is important to them and beneficial in their life.”

The program has made a positive impact on many lives of children that don’t have ideal situations. Any academic gains is just icing on the cake!”

Where we are today!... “As teachers, we want to impact the lives

of all of our students, but often it is difficult to reach them all on the same level. If we are going to expect all students to be successful learners, they have to start by ‘showing up’ every day…Mission Mentors has helped students make the connection that consistent attendance and work habits are important for student success.”

- Elaine Hutchison (Oklahoma’s Teacher of the Year)