Another Great Year for the Oconee County Mentor Program!

The Oconee County Mentor Program has had another great year!  The 2011-2012 school year ended with 52 volunteer mentors working with students in grades K-12 in each of our Oconee schools.  Mentors met weekly with students on the school campus to encourage their social and academic success.  Students gave their mentors high marks writing such comments as , "My mentor is so important to me.  She rocks. I hope every kid has a mentor and feels this way." " I tell (my mentor) how I am doing in school.  It makes him happy to hear I'm doing so good."

The Mentor Program celebrated National Mentoring Month in January by honoring mentors and.  Ms. Morgan Power, School Coordinator, at Colham Ferry Elementary School was recognized at the January Board of Education meeting for her outstanding contribution to the Mentor Program at the school level.  At the school level, Ms. Power consistently created a welcoming environment for all mentors!  Other activities during the month, included Chairman Melvin Davis proclaiming National Mentoring Month in Oconee County by signing a proclamation and presenting it to Ann Hester, Oconee Area Resource, Patsy Grimes, Mentor Program Coordinator and Pat Sears, Mentor. Students with mentors thanked their mentors individually and through a display at the Oconee County Board of Education office in February.

Mentors are needed for the 2012-2013 school year.  Mentors have been requested for students at all grade levels, especially at the middle school level.  New mentors are required to complete an application, a background check and attend a training session before being assigned to work with a student.  Applications are available by contacting Patsy Grimes at mentor@oconeeconnection.org or by calling at 706-769-4974.