Spring Branch ISD Featured News

SpringBoard Program mentors returned this month to start visiting their mentees at more than 30 campuses across Spring Branch ISD. Exclamations of “Hey, how’s it going?” and, “I missed you so much!” were heard as mentors and mentees reunited after a long summer apart.

Seitel Marketing Director Marcia Nouis and her seventh-grade mentee, Emely, recently visited during lunch at Spring Oaks Middle School. “I wanted to get involved as a mentor when I heard other people at work talking about how much they enjoyed meeting with their mentees,” said Ms. Nouis. “Our relationship has helped me grow as I learned about Emely’s culture, her music and in knowledge about kids today.”

Ms. Nouis expressed appreciation for the support Seitel gives to a group of mentors who visit with mentees in SBISD. “It is nice to communicate with other employees about mentoring and watch as our mentees grow to succeed in life,” she said.

For now, Emely is planning a career in natural medicine combined with professional boxing. “I box four times a week at a place near my home that opened over the summer,” said Emely.  

“My counselor recommended me for the program and I wanted to talk with someone about stuff,” said Emely. “I can trust (my mentor) with everything, and she gives good advice.”

A benefit of Ms. Nouis’ advice to concentrate and pay attention in class resulted in helping Emely be less distracted and raise her math grades.

“Emely is very articulate,” said Ms. Nouis. “We hit it off right away.” Noting that she has sons and a grandson, Ms. Nouis expressed she had always wanted a daughter, and Emely fills that void. “I enjoy my time with her and hearing stories about her friends.”

The SpringBoard Mentor program, celebrating its 16^th year in the district, pairs caring adults from over 20 partner organizations and from the community with students “on the brink of success.” These students benefit from the gift of one-on-one visits and non-judgmental friendships with their mentors. More than 450 mentors are serving SBISD students as mentors.

“When I’m training new SBISD mentors, we often speak of students as our greatest resources,” said SpringBoard Mentor Program coordinator, Pat Waldrop. “Just as we do with all resources, we need to nurture them a way that encourages development and growth so they can be the best they can be.  That is what mentors do!”

At Hollibrook Elementary, returning mentors from partner Memorial Drive United Methodist Church (MDUMC), also began reunions with their mentees. Fifth-grade mentee, Bailey, and his mentor John Bohrer, decided to make lists of all the things they each had done over the summer.

Bailey’s list included visits to Six Flags and Splash Town. On a map posted in the Hollibrook mentoring room, Mr. Bohrer showed Bailey the route he took on a summer trip through Colorado during the summer break. “I also went to the dentist,” said Mr. Bohrer with a grin. “I guess that doesn’t count as a fun summer activity.”

Cecelia Bentz and her fifth-grade mentee, Naima, picked up where they left off by playing Monopoly during a recent visit. They also enjoyed catching up with each other and recalling the field trip to the Edith L. Moore Nature Sanctuary last spring. 

The mentor/mentee outing was sponsored by MDUMC and organized by Julie Eisenhauer, the church’s mentor program coordinator and Cindy Rojas, the program leader and  Communities in Schools case manager at Hollibrook.

The students and mentors enjoyed strolling on the paths in the nature sanctuary, exploring displays in the center’s log cabin, and finishing up with a taco lunch at the church’s youth center. A piñata was provided for the students to whack and enjoy at the end of the lunch.

Mentor, and former SBISD teacher, Cheryl Carruthers, was so happy to see her mentee, Indiana, for the first time this school year at Hollibrook. “You should have seen her face when she saw me waiting for her outside the classroom,” said Ms. Carruthers. “Her whole face lit up!”

Indiana said she is enjoying her fourth-grade year at Hollibrook. “I like to play Jinga and Monopoly with my mentor,” she said. Indiana notes that visiting with her mentor is a fun break from eating lunch in the cafeteria and going outside for recess. Indiana said Ms. Carruthers brings “happiness” to her life. Two of her friends also have mentors and they sometimes see each other in the school’s mentor room.

“When I was a teacher, I noticed the students who came to Landrum Middle School who had had a mentor in elementary school were more confident and able to adjust to the transition to sixth grade and beyond,” said Ms. Carruthers. “When I retired, I knew I wanted to be a mentor to help another student develop these important traits.”

Their smiles show that this mentor and mentee duo are happy to be back together for the new school year. Ms. Carruthers will provide expert guidance to prepare her mentee for the shift to the rigors of sixth grade in two years. To express her joy, Indiana did The Floss dance, arms moving side-to-side and front to back, like dental floss!

If you would like to provide hope, guidance, joy, and maybe a happy dance, to the life of an SBISD student, please go to this website to review the easy steps to become a mentor in the award-winning SpringBoard Mentor Program.

For more information, email mentor@springbranchisd.com or call 713-251-2302.