MENTORING PLAYS A VITAL ROLE IN CARING FOR BISD STUDENTS
MENTORING IN BISD
January is National Mentoring Month and BISD is celebrating the annual campaign aimed at expanding quality mentoring connections between caring adults and our BISD students. Current research shows that mentors play a significant role in providing young people with the tools to attend and engage in school, to reduce or avoid risky behaviors like drug use, and to expect to achieve success in life.
BISD has worked to increase student mentoring programs across the district, demonstrating the district’s commitment to address the needs of every student and help provide a safe, positive school climate. Mentoring has several faces in BISD but each has the goal of providing an extra caring individual as a role model in the life of our student. They are an example of the successful adults we want our students to aspire to become.
STUDENT-TO-STUDENT MENTORING
High School PALS Program
Student-to-student mentoring has a long history in BISD with the successful Peer Assistance & Leadership (PALS) program at the top of the list. Both Brazosport and Brazoswood high schools encourage student leaders to serve in this initiative. High school students assist younger students in using positive decision-making skills and resiliency. For the start of this school year, approximately 210 elementary and middle school students are being served by 75 PALS.
In addition, many of our high school sports teams dedicate time each week to visit elementary students for reading and tutoring where needed. The young students love to have these skilled athletes model good academic and character traits each time they come.
ADULT-TO-STUDENT MENTORING
As an added dynamic to the mentoring picture, several adult-to-student mentoring programs make a lasting impact on BISD students.
ASCEND
The ASCEND Program, which stands for Acquiring Strength, Character, Employability and Networking skills with Determination, is a new program in BISD for students in transition who may require an additional level of support in order to be successful. ASCEND students benefit by having caring and committed professionals providing mentoring, college and career readiness activities, and social emotional learning opportunities. The program helps students learn to set smart goals and have the confidence to accomplish them. Additionally, college visits, academic field trips and a leadership summit are incorporated to help empower students and equip them for their future.
LEO’s & PEAL’s
BISD Police Department’s started the Leaders that are Educated and are Overachievers (LEO’s) program for young boys and the Poise Elegance Attentiveness Responsible Leaders (PEARL’s) program for girls. The program is designed to develop respectful, responsible students who are accountable for their actions. This Fall there are LEO’s and PEARL’s at SFAustin STEM Academy, Lanier Elementary, Clute Intermediate, and Rasco campuses.
LIFT UP
A few years ago BISD began a one-on-one mentoring program entitled LIFT UP Mentoring. This district school-based mentoring initiative seeks to connect supportive, caring adults with our students. The program’s name reflects the intent of helping students rise to success by the encouragement of another adult in their life.
LIFT UP Mentors are matched with a student that has been recommended by the campus with parent permission. Mentors are matched based on schedule, availability, personality, and interest. Mentors meet with their students one day a week for 30 minutes during school hours for the duration of the school year.
Reading Heroes
Another mentoring related program that goes hand in hand with our district-wide Read 20 initiative is the program Read 20 Together: Growing Leaders Through Hero Readers. These adult readers are affectionately called Reading Heroes for short. The mission of Read 20 Together is to inspire the love of reading and build confidence in BISD First Graders by utilizing community partners to read with students. Reading Heroes meet one-on-one with their same student at least 20 minutes twice a month for the school year.
Danny Massey, Superintendent of BISD Schools says, “There is no greater way to impact a student’s life and your life than to become a mentor. Our goal is for every student in BISD to have a trusting adult they feel comfortable talking to.”
As you can see, in BISD we are well on our way!
If you want to know more about any of these opportunities or want to “Become a Mentor” please click on the website link and follow the steps. Or feel free to contact BISD Volunteer/Mentor Liaison Sharon Ritchie for assistance at 979-730-7000 ext. 12455.
www.brazosportisd.net/community/become a mentor
