State Superintendent, Teachers Union President Encourage Hoosiers to Mentor
 
Bennett and Schnellenberger Tout Mentoring’s Impact on Student Achievement
 
INDIANAPOLIS – While sometimes portrayed as adversaries in the discussion of education reform in Indiana, Indiana’s Superintendent of Public Instruction Tony Bennett and Indiana State Teachers Association (ISTA) President Nate Schnellenberger have a great deal in common—both hail from Southern Indiana, both trained as science teachers and today both say mentoring can play an important role in helping more Hoosier students graduate from high school.
 
On the day before the Indiana General Assembly begins its 2011 legislative session, during which Bennett and Schnellenberger will add distinctive voices to the education debate, the men appeared together in the Indiana Statehouse to encourage more adults to be a mentor.
 
The recent news that the state’s high school graduation rate is rising show the state is heading in the right direction, Bennett said, and can serve as encouragement for Hoosiers looking for opportunities to make a difference.
 
“At the Indiana Department of Education (IDOE), we believe strongly that Indiana’s students will push themselves hard to meet or exceed the high expectations caring adults set for them,” said Bennett. “Therefore, I think we can achieve even better results if more Hoosiers commit time and energy to their school communities.
 
“I encourage anyone looking for a way to give back to their communities to consider serving as a mentor for Indiana’s school children as they work to prepare for success in college, careers and beyond.”
 
Schnellenberger noted that research shows children who are mentored are more likely to attend college than their counterparts.
 
“High-quality mentoring builds upon the good work of dedicated classroom teachers,” Schnellenberger said. “Research also shows children who are mentored have fewer behavioral problems and are less likely to miss school—that translates into students who are ready to learn, to earn a diploma, and to attain the post-secondary education necessary to compete for good jobs in today’s economy.”
 
Both Bennett and Schnellenberger lend the support of their offices to the Indiana Mentoring Partnership (IMP). The partnership comprises 195 mentoring agencies, business and civic entities, schools, nonprofits, and charitable foundations, working together to increase the number of mentors by building public awareness of the needs and benefits of youth mentoring. Representatives from the IDOE and the ISTA sit on IMP’s advisory council.
 
In its initial year, IMP helped existing mentoring agencies recruit nearly 800 new mentors. But a recent survey conducted by IMP found at least 1,320 children are on waiting lists for a mentor.
 
“Business leaders often ask me how they can contribute to the education of Indiana’s youth,” Bennett said. “I understand many businesses already give their employees paid time off to volunteer, some as mentors, and I’d encourage others to look at this option as a way to help kids now and to develop Indiana’s workforce for the future.”
 
Schnellenberger noted that a number of mentoring agencies are hosting events during January, which is National Mentoring Month, to recruit more mentors.
 
“This call to action is vitally important because the children of Indiana are in need of our time, talents and efforts," Schnellenberger said. “As we look for ways to stretch our resources, an investment of your time in the life of a child will provide a return we Hoosiers can embrace.”
 
Individuals interested in becoming mentors can log on to the Indiana Mentoring Partnership’s Web site, www.abetterhour.org. By entering their zip codes in a search box, potential mentors can find a listing of mentoring opportunities in their area.
 
The Indiana Mentoring Partnership is an initiative of the Indiana Youth Institute (IYI). IYI promotes the healthy development of Indiana children and youth by serving the people, institutions and communities that impact their well-being. For more information about the Indiana Youth Institute, visit www.iyi.org.