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

Four 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:
 Churches
 Large Employers
 Civic Organizations
 School Employees
 Board of Directors
 Referrals from existing mentors and board of
directors.
Mentee Referrals

Remediation

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 Parents
Mentor Applications
Mentee Referral Forms
Parent 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..

o
Mentor Orientation
Ruby Payne Seminar
Mentor Kickoff
Parents, Mentor, and Mentees
Funding:
Private Donations
 Fundraiser Dinner

 Meal before a home football game
Match Support Specialist
“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
Monthly Updates from Mentors and
Parents
 New Matches During Summer and
School Year
 Paperwork

 Referral Forms
 Parent Permission Forms
 Mentor 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
 Website
www.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.

 Kickoffs
 Fundraiser
 Mentor Appreciation Days
 Mentor Banquet
Where We Are Today!...

62 Matches (124 people total)
 More are added every month
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)