LPVEC pioneers new mentor program to aid students

Date: 12/3/2008

By Katelyn Gendron

Reminder Assistant Editor



WEST SPRINGFIELD The Lower Pioneer Valley Education Collaborative (LPVEC) will be piloting a new program next year to bridge the gap between at-risk students and the classroom.

As part of a five-year, $600,000 grant from the Executive Office of Health and Human Services, the mentoring program targets students in LPVEC's Brush Hill Academy who are at risk of failing classes or dropping out. However, many volunteer mentors are still needed.

Maurine Albano, mentoring coordinator at LPVEC, explained that this program is not a requirement for students and will hopefully help to decrease tardiness and absenteeism, as well as increase academic performance.

"The single best indicator for success in school is a caring adult," Janice Davis, director of curriculum at LPVEC, said.

Albano noted that seven students and mentors have applied for the program.

"Some of them [the students at Brush Hill Academy] have welcomed the opportunity and others have looked at it cautiously, which is not unusual for the way they approach things," Davis said. "They are guarded in trusting adults."

Albano explained that LPVEC is looking for adults 19 years of age or older to commit one hour during school hours to their student each week for a minimum of one year.

"[We're looking for] someone who will listen," she said, "who will be an open ear and not judge them. We're looking for both white- and blue-collar workers. We're not looking for anybody with any special, magical powers; someone who has been successful in family life or the workforce; someone who is satisfied and will open their eyes to opportunities and how to achieve them."

Davis explained that this grant has helped to establish services for students for the past three years. She noted that each of the programs require sustainability beyond the life of the grant.

"The grant is not just for mentoring but for a lot of things concerned with students who are falling through the cracks," she said. "Those that are the silent population that tends to go unseen. We're trying to see what models and services work best to help support these kids and families."

Volunteer mentoring applications can be obtained through Albano by phoning her at 735-2200 ext. 1310 or e-mailing her at malbano@lpvec.org.

The three-page application requires basic contact information, employment history and an interest survey.

Albano said she is looking to pair students and mentors with similar interests in order to help smooth the initial interaction.

"One-on-one mentors are really a guiding force [to lead students] in the right direction," she said.