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Spotlight
on Mentoring:
Mentor of the Month
March 2010
Ryan, a senior at Lee High School, has been selected as the March 2010 Mentor of the Month. Ryan participates in the Powerful African American Males About Success Mentoring program (PAAMAS) which is a Peer Mentoring program between Lee High School and Springfield Estates Elementary School. The program is coordinated by social worker, Marcella Fulmore, and she states that Ryan motivates his mentee to grow socially, to be a more responsible student and to become a productive young man. She reports that as Ryan encourages his mentee to succeed he too has made tremendous strides.
January 2010
Alaina, a Junior at West Potomac High School has been selected as the MentorWorks Mentor of the Month for January 2010. She was nominated by the program coordinators, Bethany Koszelak and Carrie Jones. Alaina has volunteered in the school’s Peer Mentoring Program for three years and has mentored the same student during that time. The coordinators report that Alaina provides academic support and has built an “amazing relationship” with her Bucknell Elementary School mentee. She encourages her mentee to make good choices and to be accepting of others. Her dedication to the Peer Mentoring program and her mentee truly “make a difference”.
Peer Mentoring Conference
On January 11, 2010, school social workers Carrie Jones and Marcella Fulmore, school psychologist Bethany Koszelak and MentorWorks Specialist Shelley Prince collaborated to host the first FCPS Peer Mentoring Conference. Attendees were approximately 70 students from West Potomac and Lee High Schools who have been mentoring elementary school students on a weekly basis. Welcome remarks were delivered by a student mentor and special guest, Esther Berg, VP Communications of America’s Promise. The Improv Troupe performed and led a discussion. This was followed by breakout sessions which focused on mentoring and problem solving skills. Student mentors left the half day conference armed with new ideas and strategies to enhance their mentoring relationships.
June 2009
Carol Robinson, educational planning specialist in the FCPS Department of Accountability, has been selected as the FCPS MentorWorks June Mentor of the Month. Robinson has mentored a group of sixth grade girls for the past three years at Pine Spring Elementary. According to nominator Mary Durgala, Robinson has provided emotional, social, and academic support for the girls and is easy to talk to. The students praise Robinson for having a positive influence on their academics and helping ease their anxiety about moving on to middle school.
April 2009
Donna Franklin, Coordinator, Information Technology has been selected as the April 2009 "FCPS MentorWorks Mentor of the Month". She was nominated by Annandale Terrace Elementary School’s Mentor Program Coordinator, Kasey Cain. Kasey reports that Donna has "gone above and beyond in her role as a mentor" Donna has mentored at Annandale Terrace for two years and now has two mentees. Both girls look forward with great enthusiasm to Donna’s visits and the fun activities she does. These include games, scrapbooking, lively conversation and assistance with school projects. In addition to her commitment to mentoring, Donna has donated much appreciated books to classrooms. Congratulations to Donna for this well-deserved recognition!
Outstanding Mentor Award
February 2009
Fairfax County Police Sgt. Nichols was presented the Outstanding Mentor Award from Virginia Mentoring Partnership at their awards luncheon in Richmond on February 12. His almost 10 year association and commitment to mentoring FCPS students as well as his initiatives to encourage other officers to do the same, resulted in this prestigious recognition. Teachers and staff members have often reported the positive impact he has had on their students and the connection he has helped establish between schools and the community. He has been an admirable role model and a dedicated participant in our schools and our mentor programs. Details.
Partner of the Month
February 2009
For the past three years, students from West Potomac High School have been mentoring students at Bucknell Elementary. The program which is coordinated by Carrie Jones and Bethany Koszelak has grown to over 50 high school mentors this year. Each Wednesday for 1 ½ hours after school, West Potomac students help first through sixth graders with their homework and engage in special activities including art projects and even attending a varsity basketball game Staff from Bucknell and Matt Toothaker, a government teacher at West Potomac who volunteers his time to assist the program, report that the high school students serve as positive role models for their younger mentees. MentorWorks is proud to acknowledge the efforts of these Peer Mentors and the positive impact they have had.
January 2009
Coldwell Banker Realtors of Vienna has been named FCPS MentorWorks first Partner of the Month. As a partner with Louise Archer Elementary over the past five years, Coldwell Banker staff members have read, played educational games, participated in school activities, and taken the time to have meaningful conversations with their mentees. In addition to serving as mentors to individual students, the Coldwell Banker staff members have donated warm winter clothing to local charities and encouraged students to think of others, resulting in a letter writing program to wounded soldiers and donating gifts to people who are less fortunate than they are.
Mentor of the Month
March 2009
Shelly Carney, a master control specialist at Sprague Technology Center, has been selected as the FCPS March Mentor of the Month. Shelly was nominated by Kasey Cain, the mentoring program coordinator at Annandale Terrace Elementary School, for having “creatively come up with ways to engage and connect” with the shy second grade student she mentors. She recently brought in a digital camera and, with her mentee, took a number of pictures at the school. Shelly also donated and delivered presents to Annandale Terrace during the holidays. Congratulations to Shelly for being named March Mentor of the Month.
January 2009
Will, a senior at West Potomac High School, has been selected as the FCPS Mentor of the Month. This is Will’s second year as a mentor for a student at Bucknell Elementary School. Carrie Jones and Bethany Koszelak who coordinate Bucknell’s mentoring program report that Will helps his mentee with homework and support him in other activities. They indicate he even dressed as Santa and volunteered on a Saturday during the school’s book fair. Juaquan, Will’s mentee, has been positively impacted by his connection with Will. Juaquan’s teacher, Kathryn Ngo states,” Juaquan always looks forward to Wednesdays. Around 2:55 on a Wednesday afternoon, he is almost bouncing out of his seat because he can hardly wait to go to mentoring…….Since starting mentoring, Juaquan seems more self-confident and often understands his homework, especially math more – not to mention it is more complete than it has been in the past.” Juaquan enthusiastically states, “Mentoring is great. I get to hang out with Will. He helps me with homework and he plays basketball.” Congratulations to Will Kreger, who not only excels at mentoring, but has maintained a 3.14 GPA and plays on the varsity football and basketball teams!
December 2008
Ms. Jennifer Min, the December Mentor of the Month was nominated by Suzanne Sousa, Thoreau Middle School’s Mentor Program Coordinator. Ms. Min, a FCPS school psychologist, is not deterred by her busy professional schedule; she manages to find time each week to meet with both a 7th grade and an 8th grade mentee. Suzanne reports that “Mrs. Min has a way of building respectful relationships with her mentees’ and demonstrates care and interest which has helped them succeed. She communicates with their teachers, reinforces school goals, and has been able to make connections between the classroom and real life experiences. Ms. Min truly demonstrates what Dr. Dale said at the Leadership Conference: “Relationships Count!”
2008 Mentor Coordinators Conference
On March 20, 2009 MentorWorks Mentor Program Coordinators gathered to learn strategies to effectively evaluate their mentor programs. Carol Hoffman, Counselor from Poplar Tree Elementary School presented "It’s in the Data" to an attentive group eager to learn useful ideas to track, evaluate and present outcomes of their on-going programs. They explored several strategies to demonstrate the benefits of the mentoring connections in their schools. The attendees all appreciated Carol sharing her expertise on this important topic. Special guest Jay Garant, Coordinator of Business and Community Partnerships updated the group on activities in his department.
Peer mentoring coordinators and special education staff members met on February 22 to share best practices. This focus group was convened in an effort to expand social inclusion and peer mentoring clubs that support our students and the Fairfax County Public Schools student achievement goals. Participants collaborated to help define guiding best practices, propose a mission statement, and identify strategies to sustain and grow programs. Next steps include the formation of a steering committee which will build on the foundation set at this first gathering.