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New mentoring program set up
By RITA FARLOW
Published January 31, 2007
The Pinellas County schools' Department of Family and Community Relations has launched a program to attract volunteer mentors and tutors for students in need of academic and behavioral support. Called "One+One=Two," the idea for the program sprang from a November breakfast where community leaders were discussing ways to bridge the black student achievement gap in Pinellas schools. "The research is clear that one of the most significant indicators about how successful a child will be, is whether or not they have a positive role model in their lives," said Doretha Jackson, director of the district's department of family and community relations. The program will pair two members - one mentor and one tutor - from each church or temple in St. Petersburg with two at-risk students. The department decided to reach out to faith-based organizations because they are invested in the community they serve, Jackson said. "When we start pulling from our grass roots, our community organizations, our religious community, those volunteers are here. They are so committed to that school and that community that they stay," she said. The department has seen great success with its 5000 Role Models for Excellence program, which for many years has provided mentors to struggling young black men who are most at-risk for dropping out, said W.J. Bryant, county coordinator for the program. "That's what I'm finding out about our kids, that once they find out that somebody cares about them, besides just being a number, there is absolute nothing they are incapable of doing, nothing," Bryant said. Bryant pointed to one student at Dixie Hollins High School in St. Petersburg, who last year received 37 discipline referrals. This year, the student hasn't received any. St. Petersburg Police Department Detective Mark Williams is a 5000 Role Models mentor. "The reality is that so many of them don't have any role models in their lives ... and it's most important to listen to them and direct them down the right path," he said. Information from Times files was used in this report. By the numbers The black student achievement gap 33 Percentage of black Pinellas students who showed proficiency in reading in 2006, compared to 65 percent of white students. 33 Percentage of black students who were proficient in math. 72 Percentage of white students who were proficient in math. 46 Percentage of black students who graduate in four years with a standard diploma. 72 Percentage of white students who graduate in four years with a standard diploma. Source: Pinellas County schools To volunteer Call Doretha Jackson at 588-6405 or W.J. Bryant at 538-7167, ext. 2154.
[Last modified January 30, 2007, 22:30:36]
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