Every Indiana school can achieve better outcomes by advancing mentoring for their students…
— By becoming a mentoring advocate
— By opening your doors to school-connected mentoring
— By filling the gap with school-based mentoring
To answer the call to SCHOOLS, decide where to begin…
… the Possible Levels of School Involvement
Although very different, schools generally become
involved with mentoring on one or more of these levels.
Schools can advance mentoring by:
Becoming Mentoring Advocate
- District-level: Establish the Superintendent’s voice as a champion for quality mentoring
- School-level: Cultivate mentoring champions within each school (particularly principals and counselors)
- Contribute to local partnerships that are working to meet the mentoring needs of youth in your schools
- Identify and promote least 1-2 high quality mentoring programs in your school district as “signature partners” for staff to connect with and volunteers and partners to invest in
Opening Your Doors to School-Connected Mentoring
- Understand what your signature mentoring program(s) need from their partnership with your schools
- Provide information and access: Referrals for new mentees, feedback/data regarding mentee progress
- Provide In-kind support: Background checks for mentees, contact between mentor program and school staff, as needed (a point person such as counselor and teachers of mentees) paid time for staff to volunteer as mentors
- Open your campuses to screened mentors: Allow on-site mentoring during school hours, welcome mentors as part of the school community, as it relates to their mentee (e.g. their attendance at graduation, etc.)
- Contract with a mentoring program(s) as your school’s mentoring provider
Filling the Gap with School-Based Mentoring
If there is an unmet need for mentoring for your target students and no feasible option
for engaging a community provider, schools can offer their own mentoring program.
How Can Your School Maximize Its Return on Investment in Mentoring?
The most essential requirements for generating STRONG STUDENT OUTCOMES from your school’s investment in mentoring are:
- Small, but effective start, that evolves and expands over time
- Strong vision, leadership and commitment by school superintendent and principals
- Integrated, truly operational, partnership with community leaders and mentoring providers
- Clear strategy that outlines what the school’s level of involvement as a mentoring champion will be
- Dedicated & trained staff resources to manage the school(s)’ role in mentoring at the district and school level
- Aggressive risk management policies and procedures which protect the a) safety of mentees and other students and b) liability of the schools and volunteers