The Mentor's Role...
A mentor is a caring adult, a friend who listens, understands, responds and offers support and advice. Many students have a greater need for positive role models than for critics. This is especially true for students with low self-esteem. Mentors can be extremely effective sources of learning. Their roles can assist in numerous ways, including:
Providing a model of correct behavior for a student to emulate.
Developing a positive belief in the benefits of education.
Clarifying values that lead to more positive attitudes.
Developing problem-solving skills.
Assisting in the development of short and long-term goals.
Providing consistency in chaotic situations.
Tutoring a student academically.

Initiating Matching
After the application is processed and approved, the school coordinator will match the student and the mentor based on their common interests. Thomas Elementary has over 800 students. Many are in need of a mentor!

Length of Match
The recommended time period that a mentor should meet with the student is a minimum of one time per week for the entire school year. It is very important that the visits be consistent. The mentor and student usually decide the time and day of the visits. Research shows that mentor matches that last for less than six months are actually detrimental to a student. Thus we ask for a commitment of a year.

Meeting with Students
The mentor should sign in at the school administrative office when visiting the student. The mentor binder has two places to mark to show the mentor’s attendance. On the day of the planned visit, the mentor should phone the front office to verify the student’s attendance. (469-752-3500).

Mentors typically come during lunch time to meet with their matched student. Lunch times for students range from 10:45am-12:00pm. Lunch lasts 30 minutes. After most lunch times there is also recess. If a mentor chooses to stay during a child’s recess time, they may do so. Some mentors also meet at breakfast time. This is from 7:15-7:45.

All meetings and/or activities with students MUST take place on the school campus or as part of school-sponsored field trips. All activities with a student or students MUST take place on the school grounds in sight of school staff representatives. Mentors may eat lunch with students in the designated mentor room. Mentors are never to criticize the school, teachers, counselors, or principal with the student.

Transporting a student in the mentor's personal car or company car is strictly prohibited. Students must be transported in a school district bus (field trips), in a school official's vehicle or in a parent or legal guardian's vehicle.

Confidentiality
Confidentiality should be maintained in the mentor/student relationship except for these circumstances:
If a student confides that he/she is the victim of sexual, emotional or physical abuse, the mentor must notify the school principal immediately.
If a student tells the mentor of their involvement in any illegal activity, the principal must be notified immediately.
The mentor should let the student know that the student may share confidential information with him/her, but there are certain things that the mentor is required by law to tell the principal and that this is for the welfare of the student.

For more information on becoming a mentor at Thomas Elementary, contact:

Sharon Swanson
Assistant Principal/Mentor Coordinator
469-752-3511