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Q: What does a mentor do?
A: A mentor is anyone who provides another person with support, counsel, friendship and reinforcement. By sharing information and life experiences, a mentor can help a young person understand the value of education, achieve familiarity with the world of work, solve problems, and strive to accomplish mutually agreed-upon goals. Your time and life experience are what counts most. You need no particular skills. Mature teenagers, college students, recent graduates, parents and seniors all have valuable insight to share. We welcome you all!
Q. What is the time commitment?
A. Mentors typically spend 30-60 minutes per week together. We ask that you commit to participate in the program for the entire school year. This requirement is important to ensure the consistency and stability that make for a productive relationship.
Q. Where do we meet?
A. Appoquinimink's Mentoring Program is school-based, which means time will be provided for mentoring during the course of the regular school day. Depending on your schedule, a weekly appointment will be established in a specified location. A pass will allow the student to leave class for the designated time period.
Q. Is there a screening process?
A. Yes! All mentoring candidates are asked to complete an application form, including a survey to determine your background, interests and skills. After we have processed your information, you'll meet one-on-one with a coordinator to discuss the program and answer any questions. Then we'll schedule you for a training and orientation session. After you successfully complete our training, you'll be paired with a deserving student.
Q. What kinds of activities will we do?
A. Three different types of school-based mentoring programs are currently available in the District: 1) Academic, 2) Social and 3) E-Mentoring (relationship-building via electronic mail). We'll help you find the one that is best-suited to your time and personality, and then pair you with a student whose needs reflect your strengths.
The primary role of a mentor is to LISTEN. A great deal of your time will be spent sharing thoughts & ideas, and hearing from your student about his/her concerns. Most of these conversations will occur naturally during activities you share together at school. For example, you might do homework, go to the library, work on a craft project, play a board game, read a book, or just talk... Activities depend on the needs, interests and hobbies of your student.
During the time you spend with your mentee, we encourage you to meet his or her teachers and friends to gain a better picture of how to positively reinforce your student's school life.
Q. How is confidential information handled?
A. Trust is an important part of the mentoring relationship. Whenever possible, student confidences should be kept private. However, if a student indicates that he/she or someone else may be in danger, mentors are required to immediately notify the principal or other administrators in the school.
Q. How are students selected?
A. Students are usually referred by their teacher or guidance counselors. Occasionally, we receive requests from a parent or caregiver. Our goal is to provide a mentor to every child in the District who needs one.
Q. Where do I go to volunteer?
A. Every school in our District operates a Mentoring Program. Locations include: Middletown, Odessa, Townsend and parts of Bear, Delaware. Based on your time and availability, we can help you find the location/school/grade that's right for you. Thanks to E-Mentoring, options are now available whether you live half a mile or half a world away!
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