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Mentors

Mentor Program

The Mentor Program is designed to help reduce the risk of students dropping out of school by providing consistent support, encouraging the value of education, building self-esteem, improving academic performance, and helping students develop the skills needed to set and achieve personal and academic goals. Through positive mentoring relationships, students are encouraged to strengthen their social skills, attitudes, attendance, behavior, and overall success in school.

What is a Mentor?

  • A Mentor is a special type of school volunteer who is committed to making a positive difference in the life of a student.
  • An individual who is committed to helping a student identified as at risk achieve success academically, socially, and emotionally.
  • A caring adult who is willing to invest the time, energy, and encouragement needed to help a student stay on a positive path.
  • A positive role model who supports, motivates, and inspires a student through guidance, consistency, and friendship.
  • Someone who believes that building a trusting relationship can have a lasting impact on a young person's life.

How to Become a Mentor

1. Mentor's Responsibilities

A mentor meets one-to-one with an elementary, middle, or high school student for approximately 30 minutes a week for a minimum of 18 weeks during the school year.

  • Promotes the importance of regular school attendance and academic success.
  • Serves as a positive role model by listening, offering guidance, and helping the student develop problem-solving skills. 
  • Demonstrates the values of responsibility, punctuality, dependability, and respect.
  • Builds a caring, supportive, and trusting relationship with the student.
  • A mentor cares, listens, encourages, and gives of their time to help a student succeed.

2. Training

  • All applicants must complete an Application to Volunteer. Be sure to check the Mentor in Functions. Volunteers, including mentors, are not placed before the completion of the registration and clearance process.
  • All Mentors must attend an orientation/training session.
  • Orientation curriculum includes:
    • Overview of Volusia County Schools Mentoring Program
    • Mentoring Responsibilities and Conduct
    • Confidentiality Issues/'At Risk' Students
    • Accessing Resources
    • School Contact Information
    • Matching and Placement
    • Liability and Incident Reporting

3.  MENTOR TRAINING SCHEDULE FOR COMMUNITY MEMBERS

Please email afoley@volusia.k12.fl.us to schedule training.

4. Qualifications Needed

  • A warm and understanding personality
  • Patience
  • Sense of humor
  • Respect for others
  • Ability to be flexible
  • Dependable and Reliable
  • Sincerity
  • Good listener
  • Able to accept a young person as they are
  • Understand and know that each student is different and unique
  • Desire to motivate a young person and help them succeed in school

Current Mentors