From Racine County Eye:
By Heather Asiyanbi in Schools · October 14, 2015 · No comments
"Racine police Investigator Jody Spiegelhoff wasn’t sure what she was getting into when she signed up to be part of the Police Pals – Racine Unified mentoring program three
years ago, but she thinks more people should get into mentoring because
of the marked positive impact the program has on students.
"As a police officer with a number of years of experience, Spiegelhoff
deals with her fair share of kids, but until she started mentoring at
the Racine Unified School District,
most of those interactions were the result of criminal activity.
Becoming a mentor gave her the opportunity to get involved with students
in a different way.
"'I am lucky to have two girls,' she said in a recent video interview
with district representatives. 'I get to be with them and follow them
through this bumpy time. It’s neat to listen to each other because this
is not a mother-daughter and it goes beyond just friends.'
"One of her mentees, Migali Hernandez, has been partnered with
Spiegelhoff for three years, and she said the best part of their
relationship is that Spiegelhoff helps her work through stuff, and they
do fun things together like making cards and putting together a
scrapbook.
"Spiegelhoff thinks more people should get involved in mentoring because of the growth trajectory she sees in her students.
"'It’s great to see them grow and become more mature," she said. 'The
biggest change I’ve seen in both girls is improved problem solving on
their own; taking discussions and applying them. I’ve also seen both of
their grades improve.'
"To become a mentor, please visit the Racine Unified mentoring pages on the district’s website. "
See the video at: http://racinecountyeye.com/excellence-in-racine-police-pals-importance-of-mentoring/
Mentor, mentee, mentos.
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1 comment:
There really are very few bad kids. There should never be "throw away" kids. There are plenty who have no leadership or positive direction from adults from very early on. Many kids are left to their own accord, or are running the show for the household. Sometimes it reflects in a lack of respect to others, no trust, or lack of self-esteem or self-respect. Some feel worthless and have no hopes or enough vision to initiate a change. While schools are more and more providing basic needs, teachers and staff can only do so much. You never know when you initially meet students, what their young lives have brought to them, and the circumstances that bring them to this point.
I'm happy that this mentor feels like she has made a difference. It is a wonderful feeling.
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