Lessons Learned Jenny Marquart EdD Principal Parkway North High School jmarquartpkwyk12mous Erin Schulte PhD Coordinator of Counseling Guidance amp Character Ed Parkway School District ID: 614800
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Slide1
Starting a College Mentor Program:Lessons Learned
Jenny Marquart, EdDPrincipal, Parkway North High Schooljmarquart@pkwy.k12.mo.us Erin Schulte, PhDCoordinator of Counseling, Guidance & Character Ed, Parkway School Districteschulte@pkwy.k12.mo.us Lois Zuckerman, PhDCo-Founder, Mentors 4 Collegelois.zuckerman@gmail.comDavid Zuckerman, MSCo-Founder, Mentors 4 Collegementors4college@gmail.comSlide2
Introduction:Who/What is Mentors 4 College?
8 Nov 2016Mentors4College.org2Slide3
Three Phases To Mentoring
Discover (9-11)Prepare (11-12)Apply (12)
StudentsWho am I?
What’s important to me?
Where am I headed?
Parents
Who is my kid?
Where is (s)he headed?
What do we think is important to him/her?
What is important to us?
Combined
What educational path is best?
What schools are best fit?What can we afford?
School visitsCollege selectionTesting preparationCurriculum evaluation
School visitsApplicationEssayRecommendationsScholarshipsFinancial Aid
8 Nov 2016
Mentors4College.org
3Slide4
The College Mentor’s Job
Mentor, Support and Guide the Student & ParentsMotivate students (and parents) to take the journeyProvide a clear path for the journeyGuide students and parents in their journeyCoordinate with school counseling staffHelp students and parents find the “right” schoolAcademics Social EmotionalFinancial GeographicRefer students and parents to appropriate resourcesSchool Counselors On-line or print resources
Teachers Coaches
Other mentors
Improve communication between colleges and students/parents
Mentors may contribute
technical expertise, but
primarily support, nudge & advocate
8 Nov 2016
4
Mentors4College.orgSlide5
Tasks That Mentors Take On
Career planning support*High school trajectory exploration to support career plansPeriodic re-evaluationIdeal college or apprenticeship selection support*Extracurricular planning supportApplication support*Essay workshops & supportApplication Q&AFinancial aid/scholarship supportInterview workshops & support
* ”Support” means suggestions and discussion, NOT doing the work
8 Nov 2016
Mentors4College.org
5Slide6
Key Mentors 4 College Services
For StudentsCareer SelectionCollege or Apprenticeship SelectionHigh School Course AlignmentApplication SupportText-based, grade-specific remindersEssay Writing Support WorkshopInterviewing Support Workshop
For Parents
Parent-to-Parent Support
“College Introduction” lectures
1
st
Generation College Support
Financial Aid & Scholarship Support*
Text-based, grade-specific reminders
Annual College Prep Lecture
For Mentors
Student Intake & Management Infrastructure
College Planning & Applications Updates Via Web Site & Facebook
Lessons-Learned & Success Sharing
College
Admissions
Officer Visits
For High Schools
Coordination with School Counselors
Coordination with College Counselor
Recommendation Letter Writing Seminar
* linked
to PNHS FAFSA Frenzies & Scholarship
Foundation
8 Nov 2016
Mentors4College.org
6Slide7
M4C Statistics
Operational for 5 years3 Established ChaptersParkway North High SchoolParkway Central High SchoolSt Francis Borgia High SchoolIndividual mentees from various other schools350 mentees signed up as of Oct 201630+ active mentors as of Jan 1, 2017Several college admissions officers8 Nov 2016
Mentors4College.org7Slide8
Advantages of the M4C Approach
Program is entirely FREEAll volunteersInfrastructure has $0 costTraining provided by volunteer coordinatorSupport for School CounselorsImproves student course trajectoriesIncreases peer-to-peer contact with parents and brings them into the college planning processIncreases knowledge within the high school of the variety of:Colleges and universities available to each studentCareer opportunitiesIncreases community involvement in the schoolProgram easily scales up or down as neededWith student interestAs other schools participate
8 Nov 2016
Mentors4College.org
8Slide9
Unintended Benefit
Continuous connections with:AlumniFamiliesCommunity membersIncreased parent-to-parent communicationTapping of community expertiseCharacter Education for mentees8 Nov 2016Mentors4College.org
9Slide10
Lessons Learned Topics
M4C Goal: Support the School CounselorNeed ≠ WantThe Parent is the CustomerMentors Must Be LocalProgram Infrastructure Must Be Centralized & ScalableConsistent Training and MaterialsMentor & Mentee retention Support services: It’s more than mentoring
8 Nov 2016
Mentors4College.org
10Slide11
Lesson 1M4C Goal is to Support School Counselors
8 Nov 2016Mentors4College.org11Slide12
Colleges
&ApprenticeshipsChallenges in College CounselingCounselors
Knowledge
Knowledge
Students
&
Parents
Regular Interactions
Regular Interactions
Workload &
Parent Schedules
Plethora of Institutions & Application Systems
8 Nov 2016
Mentors4College.org
12Slide13
Volunteer Mentors Support Counselors
Colleges&ApprenticeshipsCounselors&Mentors
Knowledge of Fit
Knowledge of Opportunities
Students
&
Parents
College
characteristics, scholarships, costs:
Local state & private
National state & private
All levels of competitiveness
Specialty colleges
Application Systems
Non-college opportunities:
Apprenticeships
Career requirements:
By profession
Regular Interactions
Regular Interactions
Grades 9-12,
regular interactions
Post HS plans & resulting
HS trajectory
Course plan vs trajectory
Career planning
Extracurricular activity planning
Periodic course corrections
ACT/SAT support
College selection support
College Application support
Financial aid & scholarship
expertise
Best Fit for Student
Academics
EnvironmentJob PlacementActual CostFinances & scholarships8 Nov 2016Mentors4College.org13Slide14
Implementing Lesson 1
Need a Champion Within the SchoolPrincipalCollege or School CounselorVolunteer coordinator to manage mentorsVolunteer coordinator School ChampionIndividual Mentors Individual Counselors
8 Nov 2016
Mentors4College.org
14Slide15
Lesson 2Need ≠ Want
Just because they need it…Want ≠ WANTUse a small hurdle (student data sheet)Offer solutions to need, but focus on wants8 Nov 2016Mentors4College.org
15Slide16
Lesson 3The Parent is the Customer
Parent is usually decider or key influencerParents worry about things that kids don’tDebtCareerDistanceBackchannel conversations will derail mentoring“Ultimately, it’s a family decision”8 Nov 2016Mentors4College.org
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Lesson 4Mentors Must Be Local
Each school is uniqueCultureTeachersSystemMentoring is a community activityProvides role models & character education8 Nov 2016Mentors4College.org
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Lesson 5Infrastructure Must Be Centralized
8 Nov 2016Mentors4College.org18Slide19
Mentors 4 College Is Scalable
M4C InfrastructureInitial Mentor TrainingMentee Intake & Matching to Mentor
Mentoring Oversight, QC and In-services
High School 1
M4C Coordinator
Mentors
Mentees
High School 2
M4C Coordinator
Mentors
Mentees
High School 3
M4C Coordinator
Mentors
Mentees
High School 4
M4C Coordinator
Mentors
Mentees
8 Nov 2016
Mentors4College.org
19Slide20
Mentors 4 College Is Scalable
M4C InfrastructureInitial Mentor TrainingMentee Intake & Matching to Mentor
Mentoring Oversight, QC and In-services
High School 1
M4C Coordinator
Mentors
Mentees
High School 2
M4C Coordinator
Mentors
Mentees
High School 3
M4C Coordinator
Mentors
Mentees
High School 4
M4C Coordinator
Mentors
Mentees
Mentees
Self-
Identify
8 Nov 2016
Mentors4College.org
20Slide21
Lesson 6Mentors Must Be Consistently Trained
8 Nov 2016Mentors4College.org21Slide22
Lesson 6:Key Components of M4C Training
Session 1IntroductionProgram BackgroundMentor’s JobMentoring Process“Acceptance” Book
Session 2
Tasks
Year-by-Year Checklists
Ideal Mentor Characteristics
Mentee Case Studies (11th grade)
Session 3
Resources
Available Resources (on-line & paper)
Mentee questionnaire
More Case Studies (9
th
& 10
th
grade)
Naviance
Session 4
Applications
Common App &
A
lternate Apps
Financial Aid & Scholarships
Mentor Do’s & Don’ts
Where to Get Help
8 Nov 2016
Mentors4College.org
22Slide23
We ProvideMentor Training & Materials
Training is provided by M4CProvides consistency across programTakes training load off school counseling staffTraining Schedule4 sessions over 2-3 months1½ to 2 hours per sessionHomework between sessionsSemi-annual refreshersCost is minimalTraining materialsTravel for trainersYear-by-Year mentoring checklists provided
Memory aidTraining reinforcer
8 Nov 2016
Mentors4College.org
23Slide24
Lesson 7:Mentor & Mentee Retention
MentorsMentors are volunteersNeed regular reinforcersSkill-building workshopsLessons learned workshopsIntroductions to new collegesSense of community (both mentor & school)Chocolate (& alcohol)Minimize frustrationSupport when mentees are being annoyingNot showing upMaking odd demandsMenteesMeet their wantsE.g., essay review
8 Nov 2016
Mentors4College.org
24Slide25
Lesson 8:Support Services: It’s More Than Mentoring
In addition to regular workshops provided by the school counselor, we add:Workshops for studentsEssay writingInterviewingSeminars for parents (and students)Annual “Inside Scoop” seminarsHour-long “Tips & Tricks” lecturesRegular text messagesUpcoming events keyed to grade level8 Nov 2016
Mentors4College.org
25Slide26
Summary
Volunteer mentoring has worked in ParkwayGoal is to support the school counselorMentors 4 College program infrastructure is scalableConsistent training & materials providedVolunteer mentors are available in your areaSchool champion and volunteer coordinator are required for chapter successFocus must be on the parent as well as the studentMust meet wants vs needs8 Nov 2016Mentors4College.org26Slide27
Questions?
8 Nov 2016Mentors4College.org27