CONTINUING MENTORING-

PLTW BIOMEDICAL

JEREMY RESMANN, TIM REEDY SOLDAN INTERNATIONAL STUDIES HIGH SCHOOL

MELISSA BUDELIER, BOAHEMAA ADU-OPPONGWASHINGTON UNIVERSITY

IN ST LOUIS

Please contact melissa.budelier@wustl.edu with questions or for help setting up a similar program in your area

Safety of learning environment

Access to learning resources

Availability of Qualified Teachers

Achievement Gap

Test scores

CHALLENGES WITH URBAN EDUCATION

Safety of learning environment

Access to learning resources

Availability of Qualified Teachers

Achievement Gap

Test scores

CHALLENGES WITH URBAN EDUCATION

National

Average

Soldan Averag

e

ACT scores

21 16.5

Low student achievement

Low expectations

Limited knowledge of post secondary education

Lack of sustained student accountability

REASONS FOR FAILURE IN EDUCATION AT SOLDAN

Pairing Project Lead the way with YSP Continuing Mentoring Improve student accountability

Increase student expectations

Provide knowledge and tools to make post secondary education a reality

Create a positive, lasting relationship between high school students and successful young adults

IMPROVING URBAN EDUCATION WITH ADDED STUDENT SUPPORT

Graduate student mentors providing academic and personal support to students throughout critical high school years

Mission of CM Develop long term mutually beneficial relationships

between high school students and graduate students Provide opportunity for HS students to receive enrichment

they may not otherwise acquire

WHAT IS CONTINUING MENTORING?

Freshman year Create trust between mentors/mentees Relate science to activities (e.g. physics of sports)

Sophomore year Increase participation in science related activities PSAT prep

Junior year Exposure to careers (e.g. shadowing) Act prep, college visits

Senior year College application process and personal statements

Tutoring program Drop in tutoring/mentoring as needed, available to entire

school

HOW IT WORKS

After School Mentoring- open to whole school

During Class period- full class, all PLTW students

During Class period- partial class, open to PLTW students

After School Tutoring- open to whole school

Conclusion: Pros and cons to each, best format depends on school environment

FINDING THE BEST FORMAT

Expertise in STEM fieldsAre able to provide more resources to students

WHY GRADUATE STUDENTS?

Volunteer recruitment Graduate students have busy schedules Mentoring is not always at a convenient time for volunteers

Funding Costs include background check, food, activities, field trips

Student involvement in tutoring Tutoring numbers slowly increasing

CHALLENGES

Volunteer RecruitmentFundingPlanningVolunteer trainingVolunteer matchProgram implementationPeriodic meetingsAssessment

HOW TO START A SIMILAR PROGRAM

Volunteer Recruitment Work with local Graduate/Medical school Gauge interest Emphasize benefit to volunteers Volunteer applications

FundingPlanningVolunteer trainingVolunteer matchProgram implementationPeriodic meetings Assessment

HOW TO START A SIMILAR PROGRAM

Volunteer RecruitmentFunding

Background checks Food Activities and Field trips

PlanningVolunteer trainingVolunteer matchProgram implementationPeriodic meetingsAssessment

HOW TO START A SIMILAR PROGRAM

Volunteer RecruitmentFundingPlanning

Curriculum Development Budget Training Meetings

Volunteer trainingVolunteer matchProgram implementationPeriodic meetingsAssessment

HOW TO START A SIMILAR PROGRAM

Volunteer RecruitmentFundingPlanningVolunteer training

Background checks Orientation Formal training to mentoring in Urban Schools

Volunteer matchProgram implementationPeriodic meetingsAssessment

HOW TO START A SIMILAR PROGRAM

Volunteer RecruitmentFundingPlanningVolunteer trainingVolunteer match

Personalities Interests Both Mentor and Student’s applications are used Input from HS contact person (e.g. teacher) and CM

program directorProgram implementationPeriodic meetingsAssessment

HOW TO START A SIMILAR PROGRAM

Volunteer RecruitmentFundingPlanningVolunteer trainingVolunteer matchProgram implementation

Students and mentors meet Welcome dinner to meet parents Begin Curriculum Adjust as needed

Periodic meetingsAssessment

HOW TO START A SIMILAR PROGRAM

Volunteer RecruitmentFundingPlanningVolunteer trainingVolunteer matchProgram implementationPeriodic meetings

Get feedback from volunteers Find out what’s working and what’s not Adjust accordingly

Assessment

HOW TO START A SIMILAR PROGRAM

Volunteer RecruitmentFundingPlanningVolunteer trainingVolunteer matchProgram implementationPeriodic meetingsAssessment

Get feed back from students Determine if program is working Adjust accordingly

HOW TO START A SIMILAR PROGRAM

Sophomore EOC Biology Scores (% Proficient or Advanced)

Whole School

PLTW PLTW +Continui

ng Mentorin

g

2014 41.8% 69.5% 80%

2013 54% N/A 86.7%

IS CONTINUING MENTORING WORKING AT SOLDAN?