Participatory Action Research Project

Mentor Program
Tamara Lee Pepperdine University July 2013 http://mrstamaralee.weebly.com

Demographics
Not Reported 7% Mixed 1%

Enrollment by Ethnicity 2012-2013

Other 1%

African American 42%

Hispanic 49%

CPSELs: 1,2,3,5

Demographics
Students Total: 578 20% English Language Learners 70% Socio-Economically Disadvantaged 19% SpEd Teachers Total: 27 15% more than 10 yrs 63% less than 3 yrs Principal: 1st year

CPSELs:1,2,3,5

Compelling Need
At this point in the year, we are enrolling and dropping a single student per day. Nat Pickering, Principal

CPSELs:1,4

Compelling Needs
API

594 after year one 41 point increase 30% have been in foster care at one point 100% free and reduced lunch

Randomly selected day

65

referrals 27 Administrator/counselor parent phone calls 15 Lunch detentions 5 parent conferences 3 scheduled parent conferences 4 parent pick ups

Positive Behavior Support

3-1

positive to negative interactions 6 merits can be traded in for chips/ice cream Jean Fridays- no tardies, absences, detentions (6 demerits) Monthly Parties-no detentions, cleared detentions
Why isnt this enough?

Research shows:
As

a strategy for helping young people succeed in school, work and life, mentoring works. ("MENTOR: Elements of Effective Practice for Mentoring", n.d., p. 2) Teacher-Student relationships correlate highly to student achievement (Hattie, 2004)

CPSELs:1,2,4

Vision
My

vision is to affect as many students as possible by providing a world-class education, and creating life-long learners and critical thinkers.

CPSELs:1-6

Mission
In

order for students to become life-long learners, we strive to first help them feel welcome at school, realize that staff members care, and that there is a bigger picture of future learning and accomplishments through mentorship.

CPSELs:1-6

Inquiry Question
I

wonder how a mentor program will help improve behavior and grades as measured by pre and post-student, teacher surveys, and anecdotal observation.
CPSELs: 1,2,3,4,5

PAR Members

Tammy L7th Grade Level Lead

Nat PPrincipal

Lindsey M6th Grade Level Lead

Jodi ORSP

Consultants-Wendy & Charne Assistant Principals

CPSELs:2,3,5

The PAR Cycle

Diagnose

Reflect

Act

Measure

CPSELs: 1,2,3,4,5

Mixed-Methodology
Quantitative Fall Student Survey Spring Student Survey Qualitative Spring Teacher Survey Anecdotal Observation

Spring Teacher Survey

CPSELs:1,2,3,4,5

Time Line
JuneNov
Met w/ Principal Mentor Program Idea Welcome New Students & Staff Solicit Tracking from APs Solicit PAR Team

Dec-Feb
Lunch w/Colleagues Student Survey Review Data Choose Mentors Meet w/Grade Levels

MarJune
Encourage Mentors Never Tardy Party Pre-SST Mentees Student Survey Staff Survey

CPSELs: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5

Survey Questions For Mentors

Did you mentor students this year? How many? Did you mentor students that you do not teach? In a typical week, how many students did you mentor? What were the topics of conversation during mentoring? Did you attend events after school or outside of school to support your mentees? Would you be interested in mentoring next year? What do you feel was most impactful?

CPSELs:1-6

Mentor Results
100%

of staff surveyed want to participate next year 35% mentored students not on their rosters Time was evenly spread (25% 15 min.,
25% 30 min., 20% 45 min., 10% 60 min. 20% more)
100%

of mentors dealt with personal issues followed by academics, behavior, attendance 35% attended outside school activities

Survey Questions for Students

2.3

Establishes a culture of rapport and respect which supports students emotional safety. In this class, students can ask the teacher for help when they need it My teacher believes in my ability Students in this class know that their teacher really cares about them

CPSELs:1,2,3,4,5

Program Data: Student Survey Results

3.4 3.35 3.3 3.25 3.2 3.15 3.1 3.05 3 2.95 2.9 Can Ask for help My Teacher Believes My Teacher Cares

Fall Spring

Qualitative Data: Student Comments

I liked being able to write notes to my advisor The fashion show was so much fun especially when the beauty school came to do my hair. I saw Ms. H and Ms. M cheering for me at the track meet

Thanks for noticing me. I really appreciate it Eeyore

Program Data: Staff Survey Results

72%

of surveyed staff mentored this year 10% of student body selected to be a mentee 100% of mentors dealt with personal issues 35% mentored students outside of their grade level 35% of mentors attended activities outside of school 100% would like to be mentors next year

CPSELs: 1,2,3,5

Qualitative Data: Teacher Comments

I like that the students know my door is always open and that Im hear to listen to them. I appreciate getting to know my students on a personal level allowed for a better understanding of them as a person and their behaviors. Its important that my mentee knew that I cared about him beyond the classroom. We discussed interests, home life/family, the future, as well as grades and behavior in the classes.

Leadership vs. Management

Vision Creates shared vision Always asks, Is this whats best for students? Inspires Trust Encourages Tasks Schedule meetings Accountability trackers Answers questions

CPSELs:1,2,3,4,5

Challenges
Scheduling

PAR meetings due to all other meetings on campus required outside of early release time. Recruiting members that were not already overburdened.

CPSELs:1,2,3,5

Successes
Most

staff participated Staff mentored before/after school, during advisory, at lunch 82% of students on campus feel that someone cares about them up by 2%

CPSELs:1,2,3,4,5

Next Steps
Monthly

Mentor/Mentee events Bi-weekly emails with best practices/reminders Dont focus on tardies/attendance Focus on the frequent fliers of demerits for the first two weeks of school Graduate mentees out throughout the year

CPSELs: 1,2,3,5

Reflection/ Personal Transformations

Start

simple and leave people craving next steps Use the Law of Addition to include more Utilize the team for distributive leadership Schedule all meetings out for the semester/yr

CPSELs:1,2,5

References
MENTOR: Elements of Effective Practice for Mentoring. (n.d.) Retrieved from http://www.mentoring.org School Accountability Report Card. (n.d.) Retrieved fromhttp://www.greendot.org/uploaded/uploads/SARC/SARC_P HI.pdf Sprick, R. S. (1998). The administrator's desk reference of behavior management. Longmont, CO: Sopris West. Rath, T., & Buckingham, M. (2007). StrengthsFinder 2.0. New York: Gallup Press. Zander, R. S., Zander, B., & Macmillan Audio (Firm) (2010). The art of possibility. New York: Macmillan Audio.

Mentee Quote
Never

underestimate the difference YOU can make in the lives of others. Step forward, reach out and help. This week reach to someone that might need a lift

CPSELs: