1. Mentor Program

2. What is the Mentor Program?
The Mentor Program is an initiative of the Addison Business-Education Partnership Council to support students at Indian Trail Junior High School and Addison Trail High School.
The program was implemented in the school year, which means will be the 14th year for the program!

3. What are the goals of the Mentor Program?
The Mentor Program successfully matches community members and business professionals with students at Indian Trail Junior High School and Addison Trail High School.
The purpose of the program is to identify students who are “on the brink of success,” who will benefit from interacting with a positive role model. 

4. What is involved with being a mentor?
Mentors meet with their mentee once a week for 30 minutes at the school from October to May.
The goal is to follow a student from junior high school through high school.
Mentors complete a brief training and a background check before they begin meeting with their mentee.

5. What does it mean to be a mentor?
A mentor is a:
Nurturer
Coach
Cheerleader
Confidant
Friend
Supporter
Role Model

6. Thank you for making a difference!
Introduce yourself:
Name
Occupation
Why you decided to sign
up to be a mentor

7. Good Mentors: Show up on time Give attention
Recognize skills and interests of youth
Listen well with respect
Communicate with youth
Provide leadership
Help youth to reach responsible decisions
Provide emotional support

8. Good Mentors Committed, consistent and persistent Non-judgmental
Accept responsibility
Keep personal matters confidential
Assume role of advocate for youth
Positive, reliable and tolerant
Sense of humor
Provide emotional support
Respect the youth’s viewpoint

9. Good Mentors Never replace role of parent or guardian
Never interfere with program policies
Do not tutor
Do not break trust established unless it is life threatening
Do not impose own values or religious convictions

10. Good Mentors Do not expect dramatic changes overnight
Do not serve as a youth’s psychiatrist, priest, minister or rabbi or probation officer
Are not the youth’s financier and ATM machine
Cannot provide the solutions to all issues facing youth today

11. What’s in a name? When you meet with your mentee:
What will you call him or her?
AND
- What will your mentee call you?

12. Selection of youth for program
Falling through the cracks
Unmotivated and unchallenged
Lack of support
Poor peer relationships
Having trouble in school
Need attention from a consistent adult
Not youth with greatest struggles
Youth at promise; at brink of success

13. Selection of youth for program
Poor attendance
Tend to give up
Unable to take risks
Hostile and angry
Bullies
Insecure
Lack self-esteem

14. Communicate with your mentee
Clear your mind of thoughts and distractions
Give undivided attention
Sit at same level as younger youth
Make eye contact (not all cultures)
Be aware of body language
Read between the lines

15. Communicate with your Mentee
Learn to say “how did that make you feel?”
Nod your head, say “I see” and acknowledge that you are listening.
Ask open-ended questions, so the answers will be more than “yes” and “no.”
Example: “How was school today?” vs.
“What did you do in school today?”

16. How to Kill a Conversation
Tell mentee how he/she feels is wrong
Drum your fingers on the table
Think about what you are going to say
Be judgmental and challenging
Interrupt or finish the sentence
Use your cell phone – learn good cell phone etiquette

17. Cell Phones Golden Rule:
Leave the cell phones turned off when you are with your mentee. That is proper etiquette.
What are the exceptions to the rule?______________

18. How adults can earn the respect of youth today
Be truthful and straight forward
Be honest and willing to share your experiences
Be loyal and trustworthy
Show beliefs through actions not just words
Be persistent and follow through
Don’t lecture youth; share with them

19. Policy: Physical Contact
Youth have a strong need for positive physical contact. Nevertheless, to ensure maximum program protection, limit contact to:
Hand shake
Pat on the back
Half a hug
No meeting behind closed doors

20. Policy: Confidentiality
All information you learn or are told about your mentee is confidential. Sharing that information is a violation. But, if the youth tells you something life threatening, you must report it immediately to program staff.
Examples: child abuse, physical abuse, sexual abuse and general child safety.

21. Policy: Records A youth’s, family or personal records are confidential
Records include: demographic, achievement, anecdotal, tests, specialists exams, medical, home life, personality, adjustments

22. Policy: Commitment
If you say you will show up at a certain time, you must be there. If you have any kind of a conflict, call or us. The students are counting on you.
DO NOT BE A NO SHOW!

23. Policy: Savior Syndrome
No gifts. They only cause lots of problems.
Remember, “your presence is the present.”
Because it’s a site-based program, you must not take youth off grounds.
Your role is NOT to rescue, but to be there as a positive role model and friend.

24. Setting Goals Good Goals are: Realistic Challenging Have deadlines
Are specific
Are obtainable
Re-evaluate goals
Mentee’s goals must be their own

25. Mentor/Mentee Sessions
Read a good book
Games: hangman, jacks, chess, checkers
Financial Independence: checking, savings account, ATM
Manners: set the table
Library card
Foreign language
Arts and Crafts
Sports
Career direction
Employability skills: application, want ads, business card
Post-secondary education
Academic support
“Walk Around” schedule of mentee
A “Day in the Life of Mentor”

26. Terminating Relationship
Talk to mentoring staff first
Set a date for your last meeting
Be honest, candid and supportive, regardless of the reason for closure
Talk about your thoughts/feelings
Encourage mentee to do the same
Don’t make promises you can’t keep

27. Just a little patience...
Throughout the year, we will run into obstacles; there might be scheduling conflicts or room assignment mix-ups, etc. Just know we are trying our best, and we will need a little bit of your patience.
Thanks!

28. Questions?

29. Contact Information:
Indian Trail Junior High School
Kristin Petitti, LSW:
Addison Trail High School
Dani Brink:
Background Check & Fingerprint Info
Jake Peterson: