The district recently began forming the Wildcat Mentoring Program, which sets out to give students the opportunity to experience positive one-on-one relationships and community support. This, in turn, will empower students to reach their full potential, capable of making informed, responsible decisions as involved members of our community.
“Obviously through working at the youth club, I’m around kids a lot,” said Ralph Wilson Youth Clubs executive director Charlie Kimmey, who serves on the mentoring board of directors. “I happen to have this belief that kids need mentors, people to act as mother and father figures, if they don’t have those already, and act as friends.”
Kimmey said Dr. Robin Battershell, the TISD superintendent, asked him to get involved in the group.
“When I was asked to get involved, there was no hesitation,” Kimmey said. “My goal will be to provide friendship and support to the kids whenever I can, whether that’s once a week or twice per month.”
Mentors commit to one hour, at least every other week, for a year.
“There have been plenty of studies which have shown that only a few hours a month of working with kids and listening to them can have a huge impact on their lives,” he said.
Mary Klentzman, a TISD board member who’s involved in the program, echoed Kimmey.
“I think there’s evidence out there that shows that kids can be impacted tremendously by mentors,” Klentzman said. “I think that it’s important for them to know there are people who will listen to them, and help them out if they need advice.”
Klentzman said the group would be aimed toward at-risk kids who may need more support transitioning into their adolescence.
“My goal will be to provide a listening ear, and hopefully instill support and confidence,” she said.
According to a press release, the program’s goals include reducing disciplinary referrals of students in mentoring program by 10 percent in the district annually, and improving the attendance of students in mentoring program by 1 percent annually.
The district says it hopes to do this through a variety of social, educational, cultural and other enrichment activities, including time with the students and their mentors.
The upcoming school year will be the first time Temple ISD has offered a mentoring program for students. The program will be overseen by the board of 20 members, and the district hopes to have 60 students matched with mentors during the year.
Some of the board members include Dr. Battershell, TISD director of communications Regina Baird, Telegram editor Carroll Wilson, Ken Cicora of Temple Parks and Leisure Services, and Casey Burke of Temple Bible Church.
“There are people involved in this group who’ve worked with other mentoring programs in the past and can attest to their success,” Kimmey said.
The district has targeted Hector P Garcia Elementary, Kennedy-Powell Elementary, Jefferson Elementary, Thornton Elementary and Western Hills Elementary as schools with students who will participate in the program.
The group is looking for mentors to meet their goal of mentoring 60 students - to get an application or information, contact Baird at 254-215-6791 or regina.baird@tisd.org
