Senior Academy Program
Program Summary
The
Senior Academy Drop-out Prevention Program is sponsored by the Winston-Salem
Chamber of Commerce in partnership with the Winston-Salem/Forsyth County Schools. The goal is to provide one-on-one mentoring for 12th grade students at participating high schools (Atkins Technology, Carver, East Forsyth, North Forsyth, Reynolds High Schools, and Robert B. Glenn) who are in jeopardy of not graduating. For additional information contact
Christie Ponjican at 336-728-9204 or
cponjican@winstonsalem.com.
Mentor Job Description
Commitment: The mentor is expected to develop a supportive relationship with one student to encourage their attendance in school, academic excellence, and preparing for future education and/or career goals. The mentor agrees to meet with the student for a maximum of one (1) hour per week on-site at the school. An individualized plan is developed based upon the mentor’s time and the student’s availability during the school day.
Qualifications:
- Sincere desire to be personally involved with another person to help him or her achieve personal and career goals;
- Strong listening skills and ability to communicate with teenagers openly and non-judgmentally;
- Ability to establish a relationship based on equal responsibility and respect;
- Interest in needs of persons with internal and external barriers to completing high school;
- Practical problem-solving skills and ability to suggest options and alternatives;
- Sensitivity to persons of different educational, economic, cultural or racial backgrounds; and
- Complete Volunteer Application on-line and meet Level 2 Volunteer Screening Criteria.
Responsibilities:
- Make a minimum 9-month commitment to developing and maintaining a mentor relationship with a teenager; ideally, this mentor relationship will continue until the student graduates.
- Attend a 2-hour mentor orientation and training session before meeting mentee;
- Communicate with School Coordinator and Program Coordinator regarding student progress;
- Support mentee in high school graduation and career goals including finding employment and/or enrolling in post-secondary institution;
- Assist mentee in solving problems that interfere with mentee’s success at school;
- Keep time logs and other information as requested by mentor coordinator;
- Only contact student at the school site; and
- Maintain confidentially of all student records and information.
If you have questions about a school in the program, or how to become a mentor,
click here.
Mentor Agreement & Job Description: Sign-Up Form
Many thanks to The Winston-Salem Foundation (www.wsfoundation.org) for providing a grant to the Senior Academy Program from funds provided by the Robert A. and Constance C. Emken Education Fund.