Dear Mentors: Christina Rivera Puente Mentor Coordinator. Cathy Gillis Puente English Instructor. Alejandro Guerrero Puente Counselor

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1 Mentor Handbook

2 Dear Mentors: Congratulations! You are now a valuable team member of the Puente Project. The Puente Project is a writing, mentoring, and counseling program to prepare students to transfer to four-year institutions. The goal of the program is to increase the number of Puente students who graduate from high school, enroll in four-year colleges and universities, and return to the community as mentors and leaders to future generations. Puente integrates the skills of an English teacher, a counselor and a mentor into a team structure which supports students in pursuing their academic and career goals. Puente mentors are professionals from the business, government and educational communities. Data from the Puente Project and the students themselves demonstrate greater academic success due to the mentor/student relationship. This Mentor Orientation and Handbook is intended to serve as a guide for mentors to clarify roles, responsibilities and expectations that leads to a successful mentor/student relationship. Christina Rivera Puente Mentor Coordinator Cathy Gillis Puente English Instructor Alejandro Guerrero Puente Counselor Materials adapted from the Puente Mentor Handbook, Grace Ebron and the College of the Sequoia, Teresa Guadiana. NVC Puente Mentor Handbook Page 1

3 Table of Contents Puente Team Contact Information Thoughts on Mentoring Questions on Mentoring Who are Mentors? Mentoring Ideas Mentors Avoid Tips for an Effective Student/Mentor Relationship Puente Mentor Commitment Mentoring Partnership Agreement Puente Student/Mentor Log Sheet Puente Team Evaluation NVC Puente Mentor Handbook Page 2

4 PUENTE TEAM CONTACT INFORMATION Cathy Gillis English Instructor (707) Christina Rivera Mentor Coordinator (707) Alejandro Guerrero Counselor (707) Napa Valley College 2277 Napa-Vallejo Highway Napa, CA For more information on the Puente Project, log on to or Puente English Class webpage or Napa Valley College s Puente Blog NVC Puente Mentor Handbook Page 3

5 Thoughts on Mentoring "A mentor is a person with greater experience in one or more areas passing on that knowledge and experience to another through a relationship of mutual influence and learning." (Montgomery) "When you direct people to do something you give them a step by step process to follow... When you give people principles you empower them to govern themselves and create their own processes." (Covey) "Mentoring is mostly about small victories, sublet changes over a defined course of time, moments of breakthroughs--some frustration, and no guarantees of success; however, the rewards are endless..." (Freedman) Don t be afraid of the / Space between your dreams / And reality. If you can dream it You can make it so. Bela Davis The future belongs to those who believe in the beauty of their dreams. Eleanor Roosevelt College is a place where a student ought to learn not so much how to make a living, but how to live. Dr. William A. Nolen Nobody but nobody can make it out here alone. Maya Angelou Enlighten the people generally, and tyranny and oppressions of body and mind will vanish like evil spirits at the dawn of the day. ~ Thomas Jefferson NVC Puente Mentor Handbook Page 4

6 Questions about Mentoring What are the characteristics and/or qualifications to become a mentor? Mentors are successful and caring professionals in the community. They are individuals that give their time unselfishly. Mentors possess a desired skill or experience and are willing to share their knowledge. Mentors are willing to make a commitment to their mentees. Why should I become involved? Because young people need positive, successful adult role models. Because young people need guidance in setting and achieving goals Because a relationship works two ways. You stand to gain insights of a young person. Because helping them succeed is a great source of satisfaction. How much of my time will it take? We ask that you spend 3-4 hours a month with your mentee(s). The Puente Team will keep you informed of any events or activities where you and your mentee(s) can meet. Time devoted to mentoring is a very important issue. You must realistically assess the time you have during the month to devote to mentoring. How long is the commitment? As a mentor for the Puente Program, we ask that you commit yourself for a period of two consecutive semesters, beginning in the fall. In the past many of our mentors have continued to work with the students (unofficially) beyond the agreed commitment. How is the matching done? The Puente Team will match you with a student according to similar background and interest. Because it is important that both the mentor and mentee(s) feel comfortable working with each other, the team will review information provided by students to assist with the matching process. How do I start my relationship with my mentee? The Puente Team will instruct the student to initiate the contact. However, if a substantial amount of time has passed, go ahead and contact your mentee. To have a successful mentoring experience, set three goals for you to accomplish, and you will feel like you have made an impact on your mentee. Types of goals to set are to do something: academic, career related/professional and fun. Use mentoring ideas on page 7 to help you meet your goals. On page 11 is a Mentoring Partnership NVC Puente Mentor Handbook Page 5

7 Agreement to work on with your mentee. It is basically like a contract between you and your mentee, and the team encourages you to fill this out at your first individual meeting. Finally review Tips for an Effective Student/Mentor Relationship on page 9. Are these students ready to have a mentor? The Puente team has prepared their students in advance for the mentoring experience. The team works with the students and explains to them how important and lucky they are to have this opportunity through Puente. At first, students may seem a little shy, quiet or intimidated. But as you share more about each other your relationship will expand. Puente students are aware and grateful that you are volunteering your time and experience. Through your modeling, they will see the importance of giving back to the community. What happens if I can no longer be a mentor? If you find that you can no longer continue mentoring, we ask that you inform the Puente Team as soon as possible. We also ask that you take the time to inform your mentee of the situation. The students are aware that you are busy and professional individuals. We are sure they will be grateful for any time you have spent with them. Mentoring does not have to be a lifetime commitment. Who do I go to if any issues or concerns come up? Any questions, worries, or concerns you have regarding your mentee(s) or the mentor program, we ask that you contact us. Who Are Mentors? A mentor is someone, who, along with parents, provides young people with support, counsel, friendship reinforcement and a constructive example. Mentors are good listeners, people who care, people who want to help young people bring out the strengths that are already there. Mentors share with students who their own mentors have been and how they helped. NVC Puente Mentor Handbook Page 6

8 Mentoring Ideas Share with students your personal, academic and career experiences. Meet with students at your work site. Introduce students to your colleagues. Work on appropriate projects related to your field. Invite students to one of your professional mixer or events if this is allowed by the organization. Provide resources for student writing assignments and encourage questions. Assist students in obtaining scholarships and internships. Make students feel comfortable about asking questions. Provide students with ideas they can use in their future to network with other professionals as students move on in their academic lives. Demonstrate that success is possible without abandoning cultural identity Meet with your mentee(s) at least once a month. Advise students about possible careers, pointing out both advantages and disadvantages, and possible alternatives. Set your mentoring goals together Tackle some homework. Make dinner together. Make popcorn and talk. Go to a movie. Go to a concert. Shoot some hoops. Go to the library together. Just hang out. Talk about life. Give a tour of your current job. Talk about your first job. Talk about planning a career. NVC Puente Mentor Handbook Page 7

9 Mentors Avoid... Taking the place of the student's friends or family. Taking sides on personal or family issues. Attempting to resolve personal or family issues. Criticizing student's behavior or dress. Lending money or giving gifts. Forgetting to return a student's phone call as soon as possible. Missing appointments, as it could affect student's grade or self-esteem. Imposing personal values on students. Preaching or lecturing. Discussing any issues that are uncomfortable for the student. Giving up on the mentor/student relationship. Hesitating to call the Puente Coordinators if student misses appointments or does not return calls. NVC Puente Mentor Handbook Page 8

10 Tips for an Effective Student/Mentor Relationship Ask if you can meet their parents or guardians. Tell your secretary or colleague your student s name so that when he/she calls the student will be asked to leave a message for you. Remember, your busy schedule may not match the student s busy schedule. Prepare for your meeting with the student. During your first meeting, try to develop an understanding with your student as to what you will discuss or work on over the course of the academic year. Stay in touch with the student between quarterly meetings. Give the student your business card, and if appropriate, your home phone number. If a student has indicated an interest in your field or profession, it would benefit the student if you explain the education or experience it requires. Try to make the student feel at ease if you notice the student is uncomfortable or nervous. Discuss your schedule and ask about the student s schedule. Share how you dealt with adversity. Send notes of encouragement. Ask about their current jobs. Suggest way to deal with negative voices in life. Ask them when they can meet and for how long Ask about their school work. Meet with them at a mutually convenient location; make sure it's a public and safe place (i.e. school, work, park, restaurant, church, library, and museum). Listen. Talk. Learn. Enjoy your new friends! Use your imagination. Be creative! NVC Puente Mentor Handbook Page 9

11 Puente Mentor Commitment Help Support Your Students As a mentor you play an integral role in your mentee s success, therefore we are asking you to support your mentee by: Keeping in contact with your mentee, and meeting at least three hours per month (includes Puente scheduled events). Listening to him/her and referring issues to the Puente team if necessary. Encouraging your mentee by giving positive comments about school and studying. Helping your mentee remain focused. Acquainting your mentee with your area of business and expertise. Serving as a role model for your mentee. Assisting your mentee with mentor related assignments from the Puente classes. Being an advocate for your mentee and his/her family in the educational system. Supporting Puente Club activities and your mentee s participation in them. Attending all Puente scheduled Mentor/Student events. Communicating regularly with my mentee and Puente Mentor Coordinator. Sharing information, resources and my college/career experiences with my mentee. Committing to be a Puente Mentor for one year. Material adapted from Teresa Guadiana, College of the Sequoia Puente Program. NVC Puente Mentor Handbook Page 10

12 Napa Valley College Puente Project Mentoring Partnership Agreement We have agreed on the following goals and objectives as the focus of this mentoring relationship: We have discussed the protocols by which we will work together, develop, and in the same spirit of partnership, collaborate on the development of a work plan. In order to ensure that our relationship is mutually rewarding and satisfying experience for both of us, we agree to: 1. Meet regularly. Our specific schedule of contact and meetings, including additional meetings, is as follows: 2. Look for multiple opportunities and experiences to enhance the mentee s learning. We have identified, and will commit to, the following specific opportunities and venues for learning: 3. Maintain confidentiality of our relationship. Confidentiality for us means 4. Honor the ground rules we have developed for the relationship. Our ground rules will be 5. Provide regular feedback to each other and evaluate progress. We will accomplish this by We agree to meet regularly for the school year. At this period of time, we will review this agreement, evaluate our progress, and reach a learning conclusion. The relationship will then be considered complete. If we choose to continue our mentoring partnership, we may negotiate a basis for continuation, so long as we have stipulated mutually agreed goals. In the event one of us believes it is not longer productive for us to continue or the learning situation is compromised, we may decide to seek outside intervention from the Puente team. Mentor s signature and Date Mentee s signature and Date Material adapted from the College of the Sequoia, Teresa Guadiana. NVC Puente Mentor Handbook Page 11

13 Thursday 10/5 6-8:00 pm In person Puente Dinner 2 hours Friday 10/13 2:00 PM Thank you 10 minutes Material adapted from the College of the Sequoia, Teresa Guadiana. Total Contact Hours for Spring 2009 = NVC Puente Mentor Handbook Page 12

14 Puente Team Evaluation In order to serve you better, the NVC Puente team welcomes your comments on the evaluation form below. By completing this evaluation, the team will have an idea of what your impressions were and how we can improve our program. What did you like the most about participating in Puente? What did you like the least about participating in Puente? Were you kept informed on Puente activities? What medium works best for you, or mail? Did the mentor coordinator respond to your concerns? If no, explain. What was your experience participating (being interviewed) for the mentor paper and collage for the English class? What suggestions do you have on how the team can assist developing communication between mentor and mentee? What recommendations do you have that would help our program be more successful? NVC Puente Mentor Handbook Page 13

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