Program Seeks More Mentors for Students

Eyes focused on a small photocopied map, Luis Diaz pointed to various countries in North Africa and recited each name in preparation for his seventh-grade social studies test Friday at Parkman Middle School.

His efforts drew praise from Rainey Smith, mother of three who meets at lunchtime once a week with 13-year-old Luis to review his lessons.

“Very good! So Thursday night, whip out the map and run through it so it’s fresh in your mind. You’re going to get an ‘A!’ Are you ready for that?” said Smith, one of 120 community members who are volunteering in the West Valley Academic Mentor Program.

In addition, 30 middle and high school students and 25 college students are helping out as mentors in the West Valley, but the program sorely needs more, officials said. About 550 West Valley elementary and middle school students are on waiting lists for mentors to help them improve their grades and study skills.

The state is spending $10 million a year on 145 school-based mentor programs, including one operated out of Reseda High School. Grants are awarded for a three-year period, with a maximum of $100,000 per site, according to the Office of the Secretary for Education.

Aside from helping students learn multiplication tables and verb tenses, mentors give advice that can last a lifetime.

“They help them focus on what they need to do to be more successful, like setting goals, getting organized and doing homework,” said Carole Donahue, coordinator of the West Valley program, which serves two middle schools and 11 elementary schools.

Donahue said many students in the program improved their grades by 25% last school year, when 500 mentors were serving 835 students.

Robert Salazar, 12, saw his English grade leap from a “D” to a “B” after Kevin McNamee became his tutor.

“He would explain to me in detail what the teacher taught us so I could understand,” said Robert, a Parkman seventh-grader.

“It’s exciting watching the lights come on when [you think] no one’s home,” said McNamee, a Woodland Hills chiropractor and acupuncturist. “I wish more employees and employers would get involved.”

Volunteers are asked to mentor one hour a week for the entire school year. Two free training sessions are scheduled from 9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Oct. 18 and 1 to 4 p.m. Oct. 19 at Parkman Middle School, 20800 Burbank Blvd., Woodland Hills.