ROCHESTER PUBLIC HIGH SCHOOL
MENTORSHIP IN THE COMMUNITY
MENTOR HANDBOOK
OVERVIEW:
Mentorship is an accelerated, individualized program for students who want to learn a new skill, develop an interest, or explore a career field under the supervision of a specialist in the community. Mentorship is a learning experience outside of the normal classroom, which, in some cases, may lead to a future career choice. Mentorship is an honors credit course that provides challenge beyond the traditional high school curriculum. A mentorship requires a commitment of a minimum of 60 hours with the mentor. The student must fulfill all of the responsibilities of the mentorship as outlined in this handbook, including a final project/product appropriate to the mentorship.
A mentorship may begin at any time, and must be completed prior to graduation. All Rochester public High School students are eligible to participate in the mentorship program. The student must exhibit maturity, responsibility, and the willingness to commit to the expectations of the mentor and G/T facilitator.
GOALS:
1)The student will increase knowledge of a skill, interest or career area.
2)The student will develop/expand the characteristics of an independent learner.
3)The student will learn and exhibit professionalism while working cooperatively with professional adults.
4)The student will develop and demonstrate effective communication skills essential to the work place.
5)The student will reflect upon and openly communicate his/her feelings and reactions to the mentorship experience.
6)The student will develop and practice skills in setting and attaining goals.
7)The student will demonstrate the ability to analyze, synthesize and evaluate the mentorship experience as a whole.
PROCESS:
1)The student initiates the mentorship process with the G/T facilitator.
2)The G/T facilitator makes an initial contact with the mentor. (If the student has a personal relationship with the mentor, some communication may begin prior to this contact. However, this initial communication is essential in establishing the school/mentor relationship.)
3)The student and G/T facilitator complete preliminary paperwork and conduct an orientation meeting.
4)The student arranges a meeting time with the mentor.
5)The student and mentor hold their first meeting, and complete the Mentor Agreement form. (APPENDIX A) The student returns the completed form to the G/T facilitator for his/her signature.
6)The student and mentor make arrangements for future meetings, and begin the mentorship experience.
7)The student, mentor and G/T facilitator develop a final project/product recommendation (APPENDIX B). The student prepares a written description/explanation of the project/product, and presents it to the mentor and G/T facilitator for signature. This document will serve as a written learning contract for the mentorship.
8)The mentor will guide, direct and assist the student throughout the mentorship learning process.
9)The mentor completes the Mentor Evaluation form (APPENDIX C), and returns it to the G/T facilitator.
FIRST MEETING SUGGESTIONS:
1)Introduce yourself, including something personal to break the ice.
2)Use the student’s resume (he/she will bring it to the meeting) to help you get to know him/her.
3)Inquire about additional personal information about the student to help him/her feel at ease.
4)Give the student a broad overview of your work and what you enjoy about it.
5)Outline a typical work day.
6)Review the Student and Mentor Handbooks together.
7)Discuss your expectations and requirements of the student.
8)Discuss any special orientation or training the mentorship will require.
9)Discuss any safety and/or security practices involved with the work site.
10)If possible, arrange for a tour of the site, introducing the student to prospective colleagues.
11)Complete the Mentor Agreement form with the student.
12)Establish future meeting times for the mentorship.
13)Designate a work place for the student.
NOTE:If the first meeting does not allow enough time for you to cover all of the appropriate criteria, establish another time (in the near future) to complete the orientation.
MENTORSHIP ACTIVITY SUGGESTIONS:
1)Involve students in on-going projects, working side by side with you or other staff members.
2)Give students their own projects to develop during the mentorship. Provide opportunities for students to discuss progress and/or problems at each mentorship session.
3)Design experiences for students which will allow them to learn about as many aspects of your work as possible. Help students to reconcile their impressions of the field with the reality of the workday routine.
4)Provide or have students research information about the skills, educational requirements, and career opportunities of your area.
5)Assign appropriate readings. This may be done at the site, or as “homework.”
6)Keep students informed about events related to the area of the mentorship, and encourage them to participate if possible.
7)Invite students to attend appropriate meetings, both at the work site and with you or your staff at any appropriate professional organizations.
8)Invite the student to spend an entire day with you on site. This can be arranged through the G/T facilitator if the day is a school day.
9)Help students to understand the whole picture. (How does what they do with you connect with the total organization?)
10) Review the ethical decision making required within your area and the importance of professional ethical behavior.
11)As the mentorship draws to a close, provide an opportunity for the student to share his/her projects and experiences with you and others at the site.
NOTE:Mentorship students should not merely observe, do only routine tasks and/or run errands, or work entirely by themselves. The mentorship should provide a rigorous learning opportunity.
APPENDIX
APPENDIX A:MENTOR AGREEMENT
APPENDIX B:FINAL PROJECT/PRODUCT GUIDELINES
APPENDIX C:MENTOR EVALUATION FORM
ROCHESTER PUBLIC HIGH SCHOOL
MENTOR AGREEMENT
STUDENT: ______HOME PHONE: ______
PLACE OF MENTORSHIP WITH ADDRESS: ______
MENTOR NAME AND PLACE OF BUSINESS: ______
MENTOR WORK PHONE: ______EMAIL: ______
OUTCOMES/GOALS TO BE ACHIEVED:
ASSESSMENT OF OUTCOMES/GOALS: (How we will know that we have met our outcomes?)
WHAT SUB-GOALS MUST BE MET TO GAIN OR IMPROVE THE CAPACITY TO MEET THE DESIRED OUTCOMES?
EXPECTATIONS OF THE STUDENT:
EXPECTATIONS OF THE MENTOR:
EXPECTATIONS OF THE G/T FACILITATOR:
I agree that the above is an accurate description of the assignment and that I’ll do my best to live up to it. I agree to NOTIFY MY MENTOR IN ADVANCE if I must miss my assignment for any reason.
______
(student signature)(date)
We have agreed to the above items.
______
(mentor signature)(date)
______
(G/T facilitator signature)(date)
GUIDELINES FOR FINAL PROJECT/PRODUCT:
Each mentorship should provide unique, individualized opportunities for the participating students. Therefore, it is important that each student participating in a mentorship be allowed the latitude to demonstrate his/her acquired knowledge and expertise gained through the mentorship through a variety of modes. The final project/product of the mentorship should demonstrate the learned skill, knowledge and/or expertise acquired through the mentorship, and should communicate the student’s ability to analyze, synthesize and evaluate his/her experiences as they relate to both knowledge and skill of the profession, and understanding and significance of the working/learning environment.
The specific characteristics of the final project/product should be developed and agreed upon by the student, mentor and G/T facilitator early in the mentorship experience. Such projects/products may include:
- Presentations (delivered to various professional organizations, classes, or other appropriate assembled groups)
- Comprehensive research documents
- Science Fair, History Day or other such projects
- Completed products pertinent to the profession, accompanied by a detailed evaluation of the product and the process involved in creating it
- A comprehensive journal and written summation of the experience
- Some other mutually acceptable project/product
The student must present a written description/explanation of the project/product to the G/T facilitator early in the mentorship (apx. 10 hours). The description/explanation should be explicit in its definition of the project/product, and be agreed upon and signed by the student, mentor and G/T facilitator. It will serve as a written learning contract for the mentorship.
MENTOR EVALUATION FORM
Student: ______Date: ______
Mentor: ______Site: ______
For each of the qualities below, put an X on the continuum to coincide with your estimate of the student’s performance. An “N” indicates you had no opportunity to observe the student on that quality.
SuperiorAbove AverageAverageBelow AveragePoor N
Productivity54321
Perseveres in Works well as jobQuits at
all tasksinterests him/herfirst obstacle
______
Cooperation54321 N
Works well withWorks satisfactorilyUncooperative
others & mentorwith others and mentor
______
Willingness to 54321 N
Learn & ImproveReadily seeks andAccepts help some-Ignores or is overly
accepts helpwhat grudginglydependent on help
______
Communication54321 N
SkillsOutstanding listen-Listens & speaks Unable or unwilling
ing & speakingsatisfactorilyto communicate
______
Problem-54321 N
SolvingImaginative &SatisfactoryConfused or
Resourcefulmisguided
______
Self-Motivation54321 N
Sees work andNeeds someNeeds constant
does itdirectionsupervision
______
Challenge54321 N
Seeks out difficult,Prefers safer, lessUnable or unwilling
challenging tasksthreatening tasksto do difficult tasks
______
Understanding54321 N
PeopleClear insightsSome awarenessIndifferent or
into othersunaware
______
Self-Understanding54321 N Has accurate sense Accurate in some Exaggerates or
of own abilitiesareasunderestimates self ______
Curiosity54321 N
Finds things interestingInterested in thingsShows no interest
to do, look at or ask aboutpointed out to him/herin people or tasks
______
Performance54321 N
Goes beyondDoes a good jobDoes less than is
Expectationson assigned tasksasked or expected
______
Attendance54321 N
AlwaysMost oftenSeldom
______
Action on54321 N
AbsencesNotifies inNotifies afterFails to
advancethe factnotify
______
My overall opinion of the work done by this student is:
EXCELLENT: _____ VERY GOOD: _____ SATISFACTORY: _____ POOR: _____ UNSATISFACTORY: _____
I would be willing to participate in the Mentorship in the Community program again. YES: ______NO: ______
What suggestions do you have for improving this program?
______
(mentor signature)(date)
Return to ______at Rochester public High School by ______
(G/T facilitator)
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