Mentor FAQs

What Are The Characteristics Of A Good Mentor?

  • A Good Listener!
  • Compassionate
  • Authentic
  • Committed/Stable
  • Empathetic/Caring
  • Open Minded
  • Not Judgmental
  • Hopeful/Optimistic
  • Coachable

What Is The Process For Becoming A Mentor?

  • Complete Mentor Interest Form
  • A Mentor Coordinator will reach out to you and send an application
  • Complete the Mentor Application
  • Washington State Patrol background check
  • 2 reference checks
  • Attend a 2 hour Basic Training to learn program rules, benefits and how to best connect with a student.
  • Interview with Mentor Coordinator
  • If approved, you will be added to the pool for a possible match.
  • Once a mentor is added to the pool, a match can take place right away or take several months.
  • Matches are made based upon the requests of students and the mentor’s compatibility for each unique match.
  • Mentors have the option of accepting or rejecting suggested matches.

What Is The Commitment For A Mentor?

  • One hour per week during the school day
  • One school year minimum

Mentors commit to meeting with one student for one hour each week on campus for a minimum of one school year. Meetings occur during the school day, based on availability of the mentor and the student’s class schedule. Students step out of class time to meet with their mentors. Scheduled days and times can change at the beginning of a semester when the student’s schedule changes.  If both the mentor and student want to continue for more than one year, they may.  Commitments by the Mentors are made in one school year increments.

What Kind Of Ongoing Support Does A Mentor Receive?

We offer 4 Mentor Equipping sessions each year on high interest topics.  School coordinators check-in regularly with mentors to debrief, answer questions, offer suggestions, problem-solve, and provide additional resources.  If you have any concerns or worries about how your student is doing or something they share with you, please talk with your mentor coordinator.

What Happens During The Hour A Week Meeting?

Our relationship-based program allows a student and mentor to share time together without a mandated curriculum or prescribed activities.  Students requesting mentors typically seek an adult they can trust to listen to their concerns and encourage them.  Many pairs share conversations and develop trust while playing games, walking the campus, creating a project, or learning something new.  Some pairs may collaborate on homework, study for tests,  investigate college and career options, or research an area of interest.

How Is A Match Made And What Kind Of Student Will I Mentor?

Both students and mentors participate for a wide variety of reasons and have varying needs, capacities and interests. The mentor coordinators seek to support students and mentors by making a match which suits both parties, ensuring they enjoy their time together.  Considering  the personalities, backgrounds, interests, and schedules of the student and the mentor all become factors in the matching process.  Having a pool of available mentors and students allows coordinators to make the best possible matches, which sometimes involves waiting awhile for the student or the mentor. Having 82% of our matches continue for multiple years shows that careful matching leads to successful, satisfying relationships.

How Much Contact Does A Mentor Have With A Student?

For the protection of both the student and adult, no outside contact through Facebook, email, phone or text messaging is allowed between mentor and student. No meetings take place during summer break.

What Is The Involvement Of The School District?

The district provides professional oversight of the
programs through Mentor Coordinators at each school although the community pays the salary as a gift to the school district. Coordinators screen, train, and interview mentors and students, and support their developing relationships through frequent check-ins.  They also provide resources and on-going training to mentors. Matches are made after careful consideration at the discretion of the Mentor Coordinators and School District Administrators.

What Is The Involvement Of Partners For Schools?

Be the One is a community engagement strategy of Partners for Schools, a qualified 501c3 non-profit organization. Partners For Schools (PFS) works with school and community leaders to launch Be the One programs.  By assisting local Be the One community engagement teams in raising funds and recruiting mentors, PFS establishes resilient campus based mentoring programs. Partners for Schools gives a designated gift to the school district from the community to fund a Mentor Coordinator position.  Funding also goes towards T-shirts, program software, supplies and an annual celebration event. Our programs embrace the National Mentor Quality Standards ensuring longevity of mentoring programs and successful results.

Who Is Responsible For Vetting  Mentors?

The responsibility for vetting, selecting, and matching mentors belongs to the mentor coordinator and administrators of each school district offering a Be the One program.

How Old Does A Mentor Need To Be?

A mentor must be at least 21, however, research indicates that adults over 35 are most likely to feel settled enough to make a long-term commitment of one year or more.  Research indicates that the longer a relationship lasts, the more it benefits the student.  Because it takes time to develop a solid foundations, most mentors and students feel that their first year together is largely getting to know each other and develop trust. Multiple year relationships see the most growth and positive outcomes.

Do Students Want Mentors?

Yes! All students who participate do so on a voluntary basis with parent permission. They request mentors for a variety of reasons:  a listening ear, social/emotional support, academic needs, or college and career planning. Every mentoring relationship is unique to the student and mentor.