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Nebraska’s Congressman from the third
District, Dr. Tom Osborne, is not only known for his role in government
or as the University of Nebraska’s former football coach, but for
organizing the TeamMates Mentoring Program with his wife Nancy, a program
being celebrated as January is National Mentoring Month.
“Our young people face different challenges today that affect them
personally,” the Osbornes wrote in a statement on the teammates.org
website. “If we are going to make a difference, we have to get involved
with them one-to-one as mentors.”
The Osbornes took notice in 1991 of how different the challenges youth
faced, compared to the ones they faced and their children faced growing
up. In response, they teamed up 25 middle school students in Lincoln with
UNL football players.
The TeamMates program expanded in 1997 and by May of 1998, approximately
160 young people in Lincoln were paired with adult mentors. The Osborne’s
joined then Gov. Ben Nelson in launching TeamMates as a statewide program
the same year.
Beatrice, Grand Island, North Platte, Norfolk, Omaha and Scottsbluff were
the first communities involved in TeamMates.
The Harvard School of Public Health is hosting a nationwide campaign to
recruit volunteer mentors for young people this month, which targets America’s
77 million baby boomers.
This year’s mentoring month theme, “Share What You Know. Mentor
a Child,” is already being practiced through TeamMates in Crete,
with 68 mentors, including two husband/wife teams, in Crete Public Schools
(CPS), from grades four to twelve.
A “one-to-one mentoring program that builds positive relationships
to help young people reach their full potential,” is the program’s
goal, according to teammates.org.
There are currently 70 schools across the state participating in the TeamMates
Program, and it is now considered one of the largest school-based, one-to-one
mentoring programs in the nation.
CPS’s TeamMates Coordinator, Marilea Thiem, took the position in
2000 with only ten students in the program.
“I have 68 awesome mentors who give so generously of their time
and of their hearts,” Thiem said. “The mentors are all probably
some of the busiest people I know, but they make time for our students.”
This year CPS has 66 students in the program. Each mentor spends one hour
each week with their student throughout the school year, helping with
homework, playing a game or just lending an ear.
“Individual mentoring activities include helping with studies, helping
students make good decisions, being a good listener, supporting the connection
between school and home, teaming to do small school projects, and much
more,” CPS Superintendent John Fero said.
Students find the program helpful.
“He’s just been great and has helped me with my schoolwork,”
TeamMates mentee Jason McGinnis said about his mentor, Rod Kuss. “I
have gained a good friend out of it.”
The program continues to thrive as new students are paired with mentors
every year.
“Every year we try to add about ten kids to the program,”
Thiem said. “The kids are nominated by teachers, parents and community
members to take part in the program.”
Thiem also said students sometimes request to take part in TeamMates.
According to teammates.org, the adult mentor guides the mentee to set
appropriate goals and make responsible decisions academically and socially.
“Students in the program are kids that we think would benefit from
an extra-caring adult in their lives,” Thiem said.
TeamMates, however, does not replace parents.
“TeamMates is not a substitute for parents or family,” Fero
said. “It supports the family at school by providing a weekly mentor
for the student as he or she face’s difficult challenges in every
day life.”
Students and mentors who participate in the program continue TeamMates
until the student graduates.
“After getting to know my mentee, it’s almost like he’s
one of my own,” Susan Chrastil said.
CPS’s administration takes pride in the program.
“The TeamMates program is one of the best programs in Crete Public
Schools,” Fero said. “All mentoring is at school unless a
group activity is held elsewhere.”
CPS’s support of the program does not go unnoticed.
“The administration’s support is so incredible,” Thiem
said.
TeamMates’ mentors receive two-and-a-half hours of state mandated
training and a criminal and Health and Human Services background check.
“All of the mentors are screened and trained,” Thiem said.
“They have to be willing to invest their time and heart in the kids.”
In honor of CPS’s TeamMates Mentors, the school will hold a Mentor
Appreciation Dinner on Monday, Jan. 31.
“The evening is just to thank the mentors for giving their time,”
Thiem said.
At the state level, TeamMates holds a Fall Conference, with special speakers
who talk about the difference mentoring a child makes and issues affecting
kids today, a trip to a Creighton basketball game, Christmas party and
an end of the year picnic.
Students especially enjoy meeting Osborne through the program.
“I loved it and it was great and exciting to meet and shake his
hand since he’s the founder of the program,” McGinnis said.
“Every student regardless of background or family involvement needs
constant support to succeed in school,” Fero said. “Students
need to grow emotionally, socially and physically in addition to academically
as they prepare for the world beyond school.”
Thiem sited higher grades, less absences and less office referrals as
changes in the students who participate in the program.
“They never miss the days their mentors are coming,” Thiem
said.
One hour a week throughout the school year can change a student’s
life.
“You wouldn’t think one hour a week would make a difference,
but it does,” Chrastil said. “The kids know that their mentors
care about them and it is good for us too, knowing that we are helping
someone.”
As National Mentoring Month comes to a close, CPS encourages anyone interested
in TeamMates to contact Marilea Thiem at the Crete High School, 826-5811.
“The Crete School District is very grateful to those that have already
given so freely of their time to serve in this program,” Fero said.
“As a mentor you could make a difference in the life of a Crete
student.”
Things are already looking up for the TeamMates program for the 2005-2006
school year.
“For next year, I already have a list of seven people that want
to join next year,” Thiem said.
by Adrienne Hajek of The Crete News |
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