Marysville School District has a Mentoring Program to support our students. Mentors are matched with students based on mutual interest and are to simply serve as interested adults, delivering consistent encouragement and support.
Mentors offer a range of critical help, guidance, and resources. From helping youth prepare for a job interview, reviewing school essays, and teaching them life skills, to providing encouragement and support, there's much to be gained. Adult mentors help youth navigate through their community. Any staff or community member interested in becoming a mentor may contact the Mentorship Program Liaison, Larisa Koenig, to begin the application process which will include an interview, as well as reference and criminal background checks.
A mentor may share with a mentee information about their own career path, as well as provide guidance, motivation, emotional support, and role modeling. A mentor may help with exploring careers, setting goals, developing contacts, and identifying resources. The concept of mentoring is simple, but successful implementation can be challenging. A document posted by the American Psychological Association lists characteristics of effective mentoring to include "the ability and willingness to
value the mentee as a person;
develop mutual trust and respect;
maintain confidentiality;
listen both to what is being said and how it is being said;
help the mentee solve his or her own problem, rather than give direction;
focus on the mentee's development and resist the urge to produce a clone."
For more information about mentoring, visit the University of Washington Resource pages:
The National Center on Secondary Education and Transition's Mentoring Youth in Transition
Mentoring and Peer Support for People with Disabilities by DO-IT
To learn more about District’s Mentoring Program or how to become a mentor, go to: https://www.msd25.org/page/mentoring-program or contact the program liaison, Larisa Koenig, by email larisa_koenig@msd25.org, call (360) 965-0047, or text (360) 502-5460.