Baldwin schools welcoming in mentors

Published 7:00 am Tuesday, April 25, 2023

In the 2022-23 school year, a new way has emerged for the Baldwin County community to enter into the lives of the children in the county’s School District. The plan, letting those in the community serve as mentors for one hour, was in the making for six years but hit a wall known as the COVID-19 pandemic.

Finally, starting in late 2022 under the leadership of Superintendent Dr. Noris Price and Family Engagement Coordinator Shonya Mapp, faith-based leaders met with these school officials and discussed ways to encourage the youth and build self-confidence within them.

When the meetings took place — in October, January and March — Mapp said they talked about reaching out to Baldwin High alumni, parents, local college students and church members who would be willing to participate in a mentoring program. She said there are numerous ways to volunteer in Baldwin’s schools from helping out at the car riders’ line, lunchroom duty, attending sports events and such mentoring activities as reading and other interaction.

“We want to teach our students how to spread a positive message, how to be respectful, responsible and be role model, as well as show compassion and love,” said Mapp. “It’s always encouraging to see our community leaders, organization, churches, business or anyone within the community provide our support to our school. Having this support shows our teachers and students that the community cares.”

During the March meeting, Dr. Price shared information about Baldwins’ School District. It includes the Baldwin Success Academy, an alternative program for students, 50 in all, in grades 6-12. Its focus is academic recovery and social and emotional learning. Other statistics shared include Baldwin’s 88% graduation rate, that 65% of students are expected to attend college and 12% will join the military.

All mentors must be approved, and it’s not just church leaders but members as well.

“They tell us what grade level they are comfortable working with, so we try to match them up with those individuals at each of our schools,” said Mapp. “We don’t take one person and assign them to a school. We’ll reach out to that principal, and they will help us match a student they think could benefit from having that mentor.”

The discussion meetings included specific presentations on each of the Baldwin schools. Mapp said a lot of people in the community have never been to a Baldwin school. She was also able to share success stories as one meeting coincided with Javon Bullard, Baldwin High graduate, and his contributions to the University of Georgia’s second straight national football championship.

“We had them share some of their success stories,” said Mapp. “Have the students share some of the things they would like to see or do. We try to get the students involved and make it more about the student instead of making it about us.

“The mentors that come in can work with their mentees wherever they want. Once you become a volunteer, you are free to move around in our schools. We’ve done a background check. They can go to the library. They can meet outside.”

Mapp does this herself, and they go to either the library or lunchroom. She said she will go to the student’s class to see what’s going on and learn who she can better influence the student’s daily activity.

“I also reach out to the parents,” said Mapp. “Let the parents know who I am and what I am doing with your child. ‘Are there any suggestions you think I need to do with the child to help them better at school.’”

When the meeting was held in March, Mapp said they learned there is a great need for having faith-based leaders coming into the schools. And she said it’s not limited to faith-based because several community organizations want to support Baldwin’s schools. She said New Vision Youth and Community Services has been “very energetic” and brought a lot of ideas and information its members want to share with students.

“We talked about a lot of different projects, a lot of different topics we thought are needed in the schools,” said Mapp. “To include mental health, community resources. With this being in a rural area, we are looking at Baldwin County as where we have to provide additional support. Not just mentoring.”

That additional support includes food, clothing and medical needs. Mapp said these are the things one can learn about a student through mentoring. The mentors can learn why a student struggles to focus or participate or just doesn’t want to go to school.

“Not just the kids; it’s also about the parents,” she said. “A lot of times you find out that if the parent can’t provide for the child the way they want, the child sees the depression state the parents are in. It hurts them in their academics.”

The number of mentors is growing, and Mapp keeps getting calls asking her how the caller can help. The mentor arrives at the school at an appointed time, but Mapp stressed that mentoring does not happen during instructional time. Instead, it can be at lunch or exploratory time (P.E, art class). The time is used to build a relationship from the moment of introduction.

“You are also going to be communicating with the teacher or principal,” she said. “To see how (the student’s) day goes.”

You may find out that student is restless. That would be the topic to address, why is that the case and how can we make things better?

“Once they see you care about them and are concerned about best interest, they are going to change their way in the classroom,” said Mapp. “They know (the mentor) is coming to see me Wednesday, so I want to have something good to tell (the mentor). That’s kind of like a reward. Everybody is going to see (the mentor) with me.

“I haven’t gotten anything but positive reports from all of my mentors. They are excited, and they are telling me they want to look at ways of what we can do to enhance the program to make it better.”

2022-23 is almost over, but plans are underway for 2023-24 to open things up for new mentors.

The Baldwin County School District wants all community leaders, organizations, churches, business or anyone within the community who wants to provide support to the school district to know that they are always welcome to come out and volunteer. Any individuals who are interested can reach out to Mapp at 478-457-2960 or via email at shonya.mapp@baldwin.k12.ga.us.