Cy-Fair ISD puts out call for more youth mentors

Though Cypress-Fairbanks Independent School District’s mentor program has grown some 20 percent this school year over last, district officials say a great need remains for additional volunteers.

The district is offering regular training sessions through the rest of the school year for would-be mentors who have an hour or so a week to spare to be an encourager, cheerleader and friend while experiencing the rewards of seeing a needy student blossom.

“One of the things we always say is the investment of time is something you’ll never regret in a student’s life,” said Leslie Francis, the district’s director of marketing and business relations, who oversees the program, which has about 600 mentors serving about 675 students at campuses across the district.

Two mentors, Tracie Barton and Stephanie Wade, said volunteering to help students is the most

rewarding thing they’ve ever done, and encourage others to try it.

“I know that I am not the sole reason my student has been successful in school and in life, but it has given me such great joy to witness his success,” said Barton of the high school senior she has mentored for seven years and who is headed to the University of Houston on a full scholarship.

Barton said her student was shy, lacking in organizational skills, failing classes and didn’t participate in extracurricular activities when she started mentoring him.

But over the years, they forged a strong relationship and talked freely over board games about his grades, social life, college and goals.

Barton said he gained confidence, joined the school wrestling team, lost more than 50 pounds and thrived academically.

“Since our first meeting, I have always instilled in him that he is very special and any goals he set for himself are obtainable through hard work,” she said. “I am very proud of him.”

Mentor through work

Wade became a mentor through her company, Eagle Burgmann, which adopted Kirk Elementary School in 2014.

Wade, who mentors two students and helped two last year, said both her current students, a 7-year-old girl who is repeating kindergarten and a fifth-grade boy who had difficulty fitting in, are doing well.

She said the girl has more self-confidence and cares about her school work now, and that the fifth-grader is making friends and learning to solve his problems.

“I encourage them to do their best and help them set short-term and long-term goals so they strive for excellence in all that they do,” Wade said. “Mostly, I am one of their biggest cheerleaders.”

Anthony Middle School counselor and mentor coordinator Melissa Laroussini said people like Barton and Wade have a profound impact on students.

“I have seen the grades of students who struggle academically improve dramatically, a lot of which I credit to the weekly meetings with their mentor who kept tabs on their grades, motivated them to do their best and encouraged them to take advantage of all the resources the school offers,” Laroussini said.

A volunteer effort

The program is a community volunteer effort designed to encourage students from elementary through high school to finish school and focus on education and career goals. Francis credited the growth to the flexible and more frequent training sessions and an aggressive social media campaign.

But she said she wants to ensure every student who needs or wants a mentor has one.

Mentors are required to be age 18 or older, undergo a criminal background check, attend an hourlong training session and make at least a weekly 45-minute commitment. Mentors can choose the school where they want to serve.

The district also offers on-site training to businesses and organizations that have groups of volunteers.

The next training session is from noon to 1 p.m. April 6. To find out more, visit www.cfisd.net/en/ community-involvement and then click “Mentor.” Prospective mentors also may contact Francis at 281-894-3950.