Federal Way Public Schools has launched its inaugural “Mentor and Me Program,” a partnership between adult mentors from the community and students that’s aimed at enhancing student support.

The district made applications available a few weeks ago, just prior to the start of the school year. The mentoring program began Sept. 7, the first day of school, and will continue through the school year. District officials intend it to be a regularly re-occurring program going forward.

“Federal Way Public Schools is committed to ensuring scholars have a caring, committed adult mentor in their lives,” Superintendent Dr. Tammy Campbell said in a statement. “We encourage our community partners to share this vision and consider becoming a mentor to support each scholar becoming successful in school, paving the way for a bright future with college and career opportunities.”

According to the National Mentoring Partnership, students who meet regularly with a mentor are 63 percent less likely to skip a class and are 51 percent more likely to hold a leadership position in an extracurricular group. Further research suggests that participation in a mentor program increases graduation rates, self-esteem and self-confidence and lowers high school dropout rates.

The district’s “key program outcomes” include:

• Students building relationships with trusted, caring adults.

• Students being supported with a strength-based approach that confirms their value, voice, and importance.

• Mentors nurturing, advocating, supporting, and sharing the responsibility of ensuring their students have multiple opportunities to set goals, review progress, adjust along the way, and celebrate successes.

• Mentors helping develop interpersonal skills and continually affirming students’ self-worth and identity through meaningful relationships.

• Mentors engaging in two‐way communication with district personnel if students have needs beyond what mentors are trained to provide.

In order to become a mentor, community members must be 18 or older, pass a background check, care about kids, and commit to meeting with their mentee on a weekly basis.

Three times a month, the mentor will meet with the mentee during the school day for 30 minutes. Once a month, the mentor and mentee will meet in a group of mentors and mentees for a half-hour.

Mentors are asked to commit to at least one year. The district conducts mentor interviews and gathers feedback from students to ensure that mentors and students are a strong match.

Mentors will receive support, including training on cultural competency and specific mentoring strategies.

The program is targeted for secondary-level students, grades 6-12.

The program was developed and is run by the district’s Office of Equity for Scholar and Family Success, which is led by Dr. Melanie Strey and David Stone.

“The Mentor and Me Program will complement the Communities In Schools of Federal Way mentoring program, as we work together to significantly increase the number of student-scholars who have access to strong mentorships in Federal Way Public Schools,” Campbell said.

For more information or to apply to be a mentor, visit www.fwps.org or call 253‐945‐2015.