With the 2019-20 school year underway, CCSD is seeking positive role models to give our struggling students the tools and confidence they need in order to stay in school and successfully graduate.
“For students to thrive, they need someone to see them, hear them and understand who they are and where they come from,” says Shana Venenga, assistant director of the School-Community Partnership Program.
One of the goals of CCSD’s five-year strategic plan, Focus: 2024, is to have 1,000 new community mentors trained to support students by 2024.
Mentors encourage students to focus on school and help promote future education and career goals. They serve as trusted and caring adults, and empower students by helping them gain self-esteem and confidence in and outside of the classroom.
The requirement is simply one hour per week at the school site during school hours, but the impact lasts a lifetime — for the student and for you.
Here are a few of the mentoring opportunities to explore:
Mentors for elementary and middle school students
Elementary and middle school students at risk of dropping out of school need committed adults who can help guide them in the right direction. Mentors empower these students by helping them gain self-esteem and providing them with the tools to be successful in and outside of school.
Mentors for high school students
There are students who lack only a few requirements to graduate and need a trusted adviser to keep them on track. High school mentors serve as positive role models and give these students the tools and confidence they need to graduate.
Online and group mentoring
Online mentors communicate weekly with an individual student via email, encouraging students to work hard and stay in school. Group mentors collaborate and work with a number of mentors and students at the same time to facilitate positive group activities and lessons, as well as reach more students.
Those interested in being a mentor must complete a mentor application, background check, an interview, and attend a training session. Once background checks are completed, mentors are matched with a student.
Contact the Clark County School District’s School-Community Partnership Program at 702-799-6560 for more information on how you can be a mentor.
