Making Making Connections: Connections:

Student Mentoring Student Mentoring PBIS Middle School Summer PBIS Middle School Summer

InstituteInstituteJuly 15, 2009July 15, 2009

Mara L. EgorinMara L. EgorinSchool Psychologist School Psychologist

PBIS coachPBIS coach

Teacher to Student Teacher to Student MentoringMentoring

• What does Mentoring mean?What does Mentoring mean?There are many different definitions of There are many different definitions of

mentoring and the types of relationships mentoring and the types of relationships they promote (Smink, 1990).they promote (Smink, 1990).

A broad definition- mentoring is a A broad definition- mentoring is a sustained ‘one-to-one relationship sustained ‘one-to-one relationship between a caring adult and child who between a caring adult and child who needs support to achieve academic, needs support to achieve academic, career, social or personal goals’ career, social or personal goals’ (McPartland & Nettles, 1991).(McPartland & Nettles, 1991).

Types of MentoringTypes of Mentoring

• Educational or Academic Mentoring Educational or Academic Mentoring ****

• Career MentoringCareer Mentoring• Personal Development MentoringPersonal Development Mentoring

What makes a good What makes a good mentor?mentor?

• Someone who:Someone who:– Engages in a positive relationship with the childEngages in a positive relationship with the child– Gives attention to the childGives attention to the child– Has positive self-esteem about himself/herselfHas positive self-esteem about himself/herself– Reacts well to stressful situationsReacts well to stressful situations– Tolerates frustrating situationsTolerates frustrating situations– Listens wellListens well– Communicates on a level that the child can understandCommunicates on a level that the child can understand– Provides leadershipProvides leadership– Is a positive role modelIs a positive role model– Shows up on time for sessionsShows up on time for sessions– Is willing to serve a minimum of 1 year in the programIs willing to serve a minimum of 1 year in the program– Is non-judgmentalIs non-judgmental– Reinforces student’s successReinforces student’s success– Nurtures a relationship that respects a child’s dignityNurtures a relationship that respects a child’s dignity

What should mentor a NOT What should mentor a NOT be expected to do?be expected to do?

• Replace the role of a parent/guardianReplace the role of a parent/guardian• Expect dramatic changes in attitude, Expect dramatic changes in attitude,

self-esteem, or attendance quicklyself-esteem, or attendance quickly• Provide solutions to all the issues Provide solutions to all the issues

facing the studentfacing the student• Break the trust they have established, Break the trust they have established,

unless it is life threatening to the unless it is life threatening to the student or someone elsestudent or someone else

What should a student What should a student mentoring program mentoring program

include?include?• Set Goals and Objectives (Set Goals and Objectives (determine determine

what kind of mentoring programwhat kind of mentoring program))• Infrastructure (coordinator)Infrastructure (coordinator)• LogisticsLogistics

– How long with relationships last?How long with relationships last?– When, where, and how often will When, where, and how often will

students and mentors meet? students and mentors meet?

• LiabilityLiability• FundingFunding

Benefits to the StudentBenefits to the Student

• Receive assistance with academic Receive assistance with academic endeavorsendeavors

• Experience greater self-esteem and Experience greater self-esteem and motivation to succeedmotivation to succeed

• Receive encouragement to stay in school Receive encouragement to stay in school and graduateand graduate

• Improve interpersonal relationships, Improve interpersonal relationships, such as with teachers and familysuch as with teachers and family

• Receive assistance in choosing a career Receive assistance in choosing a career pathpath

• Increased attendance ratesIncreased attendance rates

Benefits to the StudentBenefits to the Student

• Decreased truancyDecreased truancy• Decreased likelihood of dropping out of Decreased likelihood of dropping out of

schoolschool• Better attitudes about schoolBetter attitudes about school• Enhanced social, communication, Enhanced social, communication,

relationship and decision-making skillsrelationship and decision-making skills• Improved behavior, both at home and Improved behavior, both at home and

school, including fewer disciplinary school, including fewer disciplinary referrals and less violent and disruptive referrals and less violent and disruptive behaviorbehavior

Benefits to the Adult Benefits to the Adult MentorMentor

• Friendships with young peopleFriendships with young people• The satisfaction of having The satisfaction of having

contributed to the communitycontributed to the community• Mutual respect which can lead to Mutual respect which can lead to

better overall student behavior in better overall student behavior in teacher classroomsteacher classrooms

• Opportunities to enhance personal Opportunities to enhance personal strengths and develop new skillsstrengths and develop new skills

Research InformationResearch Information• Lower dropout rate (Project PLUS,1990)Lower dropout rate (Project PLUS,1990)• Increased community support (Pringle et al, 1993) Increased community support (Pringle et al, 1993) • Improved student attendance- students under 12 Improved student attendance- students under 12

(US Dept. of Ed, 2009)(US Dept. of Ed, 2009)• Improved self-reported school bonding and self-Improved self-reported school bonding and self-

efficacy for girls (US Dept. of Ed, 2009)efficacy for girls (US Dept. of Ed, 2009)• Positive effects of future orientation for boys (US Positive effects of future orientation for boys (US

Dept. of Ed, 2009)Dept. of Ed, 2009)• Low performing and at-risk students achieve best Low performing and at-risk students achieve best

when offered mentoring in conjunction with other when offered mentoring in conjunction with other social and academic services geared toward social and academic services geared toward improving student performance and addressing improving student performance and addressing individual student needs (Brewster & Fager, 1998)individual student needs (Brewster & Fager, 1998)

Dundalk Middle’s Mentor Dundalk Middle’s Mentor ProgramProgram

• Personal Academic Coach (PAC)Personal Academic Coach (PAC)• All full time staff were mentorsAll full time staff were mentors• Each mentor had 5-9 menteesEach mentor had 5-9 mentees• PAC met for 15-30 minute intervals PAC met for 15-30 minute intervals

2 times a month2 times a month• Scheduled into the school day, Scheduled into the school day,

although not a consistent timealthough not a consistent time• Staff was provided a suggested Staff was provided a suggested

initial lesson and guidelines for initial lesson and guidelines for mentee folders (required)mentee folders (required)

ResourcesResources

• Icebreaker ActivityIcebreaker Activity• ..\My Documents\icebreakeractivity.doc..\My Documents\icebreakeractivity.doc• Brag Buttons Brag Buttons • ..\My Documents\bragbuttonactivity.doc..\My Documents\bragbuttonactivity.doc• Mentoring PosterMentoring Poster

..\My Documents\Mentoring poster ..\My Documents\Mentoring poster DMS.pubDMS.pub

Contact InformationContact Information

Mara EgorinMara Egorin

megorin@bcps.orgmegorin@bcps.org

Dundalk Middle School 410-887-7018Dundalk Middle School 410-887-7018

Logan Elementary 410-887-7052Logan Elementary 410-887-7052

ReferencesReferences• Student Mentoring, Dubuque Community Schools Student Mentoring, Dubuque Community Schools

www.dubuque.k12.ia.us/studentmentoring/Studenwww.dubuque.k12.ia.us/studentmentoring/Studentmentoringinformation.htm tmentoringinformation.htm

• Brewster, Cory & Fager, Jennifer (1998). Brewster, Cory & Fager, Jennifer (1998). By By request…Student Mentoringrequest…Student Mentoring, Northwest Regional , Northwest Regional Educational Laboratory’s Information Services.Educational Laboratory’s Information Services.

• Bernsteing, L., Rappaport, C., Olsho, L., Hunt, D., Bernsteing, L., Rappaport, C., Olsho, L., Hunt, D., Levin, M., (March, 2009). Levin, M., (March, 2009). Impact Evaluation of Impact Evaluation of the U.S. Department of Education’s student the U.S. Department of Education’s student mentoring Program, Executive Summarymentoring Program, Executive Summary. National . National center for education evaluation and regional center for education evaluation and regional Assistance, U.S. Department of Education.Assistance, U.S. Department of Education.