Mentor Coordinator Report
By the Numbers for 2025/2026 school year
38 active mentoring matches at year-end
21 new mentor-mentee matches created this year
76% student survey participation
94% mentor survey participation
50% of student respondents were in their first year of mentoring
58% of mentors were in their first year of mentoring
28 returning mentees expected for 2026-27
4 students currently on the waitlist for a mentor
29.6% of students identified mental health, stress, motivation, or focus as their greatest
challenge
Key Highlights
● Grew from 21 mentoring matches at the start of the year to 38 active matches by
year-end.
● Created 21 new mentor-mentee matches.
● Maintained a small waiting list of students seeking mentors and vice versa.
● Students consistently reported improvements in emotional well-being, school
engagement, and feelings of support and belonging.
● Mentors provided consistent support to students navigating personal, academic, and
family challenges.
Program Growth
The NVHS Be the One program experienced significant growth during the 2025-26 school
year. We began the year with 21 mentor-mentee matches and finished with 38 active
matches. At one point, the program reached 41 matches; however, three students
transitioned to online schooling and were no longer able to participate.
Demand for mentoring remains strong. As we look ahead to next year, two female and two
male students are currently on the waitlist awaiting a mentor match.
Watching Relationships Grow
One of the greatest joys of this year was watching 21 newly created matches develop into
meaningful relationships. Many students entered mentoring unsure of what to expect. Over
time, those relationships grew from polite conversations into genuine friendships built on
consistency and trust over time.
As the school year comes to a close, many mentors and mentees are already looking
forward to reconnecting in the fall.
Supporting Students Through Challenges
As in the previous year, mentors served as a steady source of support for students facing a
wide range of personal and emotional challenges. Students navigated difficulties including:
● Mental health concerns
● Stress and anxiety
● Family conflict and health crises
● Housing instability
● Academic struggles
● Friendship and peer relationship issues
● Grief and loss
● Attendance concerns
● Extracurricular pressures
● Transitioning into adult responsibilities
These situations are often deeply personal, and the program places a high value on
confidentiality and trust. In many cases, mentors are among the first adults students
choose to confide in because they provide a consistent, safe space for students to be
heard.
During student interviews, participants frequently shared that their mentors helped them manage stress, anxiety, and feelings of depression. Through encouragement, accountability,
and regular connection, mentors helped students develop healthier ways of navigating
challenges both at school and at home.
Student-Reported Challenges
The most frequently reported challenges among students were:
● Mental health, stress, motivation, and focus: 29.6%
● Friendship and peer relationship issues: 22.2%
● Academic challenges: 22.2%
● Family conflict and family-related concerns: 14.8%
These findings suggest that students’ greatest needs often extend beyond academics and
center on emotional well-being, relationships, and support during significant life transitions.
Program Evaluation
Feedback is collected throughout the school year through regular conversations, surveys,
and end-of-year interviews with both students and mentors. These tools provide valuable
insight into participant satisfaction, program impact, and opportunities for growth.
Student Survey Results
● 76% of student participants completed the survey.
● 50% of respondents were participating in their first year of mentoring.
Student Feedback
The overwhelming majority of students reported high satisfaction with their mentoring
experience.
Suggestions included:
● Longer meeting times with mentors.
● Opportunities to meet more frequently.
● Additional ways to stay connected during the summer months.
Student Voices (quotes from year end surveys and interviews)
“Amazing having someone to talk to for an hour. It gives me a good outlook for
the rest of my day.”
“After every meet up with my mentor I felt a sense of relief.”
“She has helped me through my grief and gave me a purpose to keep coming to
school.”
“She has supported me when others have collapsed, and she has provided me
with loving help and blunt advice.”
“Made me feel more heard and made me want to come to school.”
Mentor Survey Results
● 94% of mentors completed the survey.
● 58% of respondents were in their first year of mentoring.
● 23% had been mentoring for 1–3 years.
● 19% had been mentoring for more than 3 years.
The strong retention of returning mentors reflects the value of ongoing support, including
training opportunities, regular check-ins, coaching, and appreciation efforts throughout the
year.
Mentor Feedback
Mentors expressed high levels of satisfaction with the program and appreciation for the
support provided throughout the year.
One mentor suggested creating a “Healthy Solutions” poster in the Meeting Space. This is
an excellent idea and will be explored during summer planning.
Requested Training Topics
Mentors expressed the greatest interest in training related to:
● Post-high school planning and career pathways
● Mental health awareness
● Trauma-informed mentoring
● Healthy boundaries
● School and community resources available to students
Mentor Voices (quotes from year end surveys)
“I appreciate having a relationship in which I’m not a problem slayer or
solutions provider. I’m a good listener and care deeply about the healthy
development of children.”
“I believe in the next generation, and I believe they need the presence and
perspective of multigenerational engagement.”
“She values having someone who is choosing to spend time with her on a
regular basis. It’s a genuinely rewarding way to spend my time.”
“It is good to keep grounded in what the teenage experience is like these days.
My mentee is a firecracker.”
Looking Ahead to 2026-27
The Be the One program will begin the 2026-27 school year with 28 returning mentees. Nine
mentees graduated this spring, and one student is moving out of district. Four students are
already on the waitlist for next year.
Upcoming opportunities include:
● Participation in the Everson Main Street Parade on July 11 – mentors, mentees and
supporters will join together to make Be the One more visible in our community.
● A winter Mentor Appreciation Dinner at Herb’s, hosted with the support of community
partners Chuck and Leann Handy.
● A return field trip to 508 in the spring, following the overwhelmingly positive feedback
from both mentors and mentees this year.
As the program continues to grow, our focus remains the same: creating meaningful,
consistent relationships that help students feel supported, connected, and valued. The
impact of these mentoring relationships continues to be evident in the stories we hear and
the growth that myself, mentors and staff members observe.
Thank you to our mentors, school staff, community partners, and supporters who make this
work possible. Most importantly, thank you to the students who trust us with their stories
and allow us to walk alongside them during some of the most important years of their lives.
2025/2026 was a GREAT year!!
Number of Current Matches: 28
Submitted by Missy Rus – melissa.rus@nv.k12.wa.us