Post by title1parent on Aug 8, 2010 7:46:15 GMT -5
www.suburbanchicagonews.com/beaconnews/news/2572774,2_1_AU08_EASTBOARD_S1-100808.article
East Aurora launching mentoring program
August 8, 2010
By STEPHANIE LULAY slulay@stmedianetwork.com
AURORA -- The East Aurora School District has created a new mentoring program intended to help students improve their academic and social success.
The program, called Connect Four Mentoring, will match four at-risk fifth- through 11th-graders with an East Aurora School Board member or central office administrator. The groups will meet bi-weekly and the mentor will follow the students through high school graduation.
"I think there is a need for this in every school district," said district spokesman Clayton Muhammad. "Not only does it impact the child, it impacts the administrators. It keeps our head in the game and we're constantly reminded why we're there."
The program is modeled after a 2007 Boston public schools program called "10 Boys Initiative," that matched 10 boys who showed a need to improve test scores with in-school mentors. Elgin schools launched a similar program in 2008.
East Aurora tested the program this spring at Dieterich Elementary School.
Muhammad, who participated in the pilot, will follow his four Dieterich fifth-graders through their high school graduation in 2017. He said that at times mentoring the young boys was a personal challenge. But by the end of the semester, Muhammad said he did see progress in their grades and behavior.
The district mentor will meet with the students during lunch or before or after school. The mentor will also communicate with the students' teachers and parents and record the progress of the student.
The kids are chosen for the mentoring program based on an identified need by their school's principal, Muhammad said.
Over three years, the district plans to increase the number of students and administrators who are involved. This year, 100 students will be mentored by 25 in-district adults.
"You really can change the world if you care enough," Muhammad said. "We're going to prove that here at East Aurora."
East Aurora launching mentoring program
August 8, 2010
By STEPHANIE LULAY slulay@stmedianetwork.com
AURORA -- The East Aurora School District has created a new mentoring program intended to help students improve their academic and social success.
The program, called Connect Four Mentoring, will match four at-risk fifth- through 11th-graders with an East Aurora School Board member or central office administrator. The groups will meet bi-weekly and the mentor will follow the students through high school graduation.
"I think there is a need for this in every school district," said district spokesman Clayton Muhammad. "Not only does it impact the child, it impacts the administrators. It keeps our head in the game and we're constantly reminded why we're there."
The program is modeled after a 2007 Boston public schools program called "10 Boys Initiative," that matched 10 boys who showed a need to improve test scores with in-school mentors. Elgin schools launched a similar program in 2008.
East Aurora tested the program this spring at Dieterich Elementary School.
Muhammad, who participated in the pilot, will follow his four Dieterich fifth-graders through their high school graduation in 2017. He said that at times mentoring the young boys was a personal challenge. But by the end of the semester, Muhammad said he did see progress in their grades and behavior.
The district mentor will meet with the students during lunch or before or after school. The mentor will also communicate with the students' teachers and parents and record the progress of the student.
The kids are chosen for the mentoring program based on an identified need by their school's principal, Muhammad said.
Over three years, the district plans to increase the number of students and administrators who are involved. This year, 100 students will be mentored by 25 in-district adults.
"You really can change the world if you care enough," Muhammad said. "We're going to prove that here at East Aurora."