Cynthia Parkhill – Clear Lake Observer-American
CLEARLAKE Local participation in a mentoring program has brought successful community role models into Oak Hill Middle School classrooms.
The Role Model Program, first organized in San Jose, is being presented through a partnership between the Lake County Office of Education and the Lake County Business Outreach and Response Team. Our goal is to reach out to every middle school student in all Lake County districts, said BORT Executive Director Chuck Doty.
Eleven volunteers committed to making eight visits to Oak Hill Middle School classrooms, six of which took place weekly earlier this year. Two follow-up visits will be spaced one month apart. The program is designed to put someone who has been successful in his or her chosen field into a middle school classroom, where he or she shares goals and experiences that led him or her to where he or she is today.
Doty provides each volunteer with training, which takes about two hours to complete, plus volunteers are supplied with a curriculum. I ve done it five times, Doty said of his experience as a role model. It s so rewarding.
I was very honored when Chuck called and asked me to do this, said Dorrie Walker, who volunteered as a role model this year. We had a guideline to go by, which made it great for a beginner, but at the same time, I could put my own personality and experiences into it.
Walker was placed in the classroom of Oak Hill teacher Tracy Lahr. The students were very receptive, Walker said. They were very excited … Just to see their enthusiasm was huge.
A favorite lesson for Walker was instructing students to write down what they wanted to be when they were older and record the date of their stated ambitions. The documents will be placed in a time capsule and buried somewhere on campus so that students can return years later, dig up the time capsule and compare subsequent ambitions and achievements with what they wanted to be back then.
Asked if she would take part in the role model program again, Oh absolutely, Walker said, adding that she would be willing to travel throughout Lake County to take part in the role model program. I ve been in education a long time and the sooner you plant seeds, the better.
Doty said the Role Model Program was established 10 years ago in San Jose by then-Mayor Ron Gonzales. Doty said he heard an interview with Gonzales five years ago on the radio.
Gonzales was a speaker in a middle school classroom and realized there was a disconnect among students, that they could not envision reaching a position such as his. He recognized the need for a program that helps kids realize their opportunities are unlimited if they begin to prepare today, Doty said.
After hearing the radio interview, Doty called the program office and was put in touch with Marybeth Affleck-Nacy, the program s executive director. A meeting was arranged in Lake County between Affleck-Nacy and local representatives.
Doty and David Geck, assistant superintendent of schools for LCOE, attended training in San Jose as Role Model Program participants. Since then, the program has evolved as individual mentors have brought back suggestions following visits to local classrooms.
Oak Hill Principal Maria de los Angeles Friedrich said the role models give the students insights into what they are capable of doing. What it does, in so many ways, is that it gives students empowerment. It helps them overcome the box they re in, set goals and make dreams for the future.
Participating role models included Olga Hoeffner in Bill Konrad s sixth-period class, Sandy Tucker in Paul Leiferman s fifth-period class, Bob Alderman in Tori Alderman s second-period class, Jamie Hopper in Babetta Wellock s fifth- and sixth-period classes, Pam Mills in Sharon Vizena s fourth-period class, Gloria Flaherty in Jeannine Fanning s sixth-period class, Debi Sally in David Graham s sixth-period class, Carol Schepper in Tom Kenney s first-period class, Dane Hayward in Bill Meyer s second-, third- and sixth-period classes; and Dorrie Walker in Tracy Lahr s first-, second- and third-period classes. Friedrich expressed a wish to thank all the role models who participated in the local program.
There is no cost to students, teachers or role models to take part in the local program; costs are paid by the LCOE. We are seeking corporate sponsors, Doty said, adding that a contribution of $600 would cover the curriculum fee for 200 students. The program also incurs costs for local printing of an accompanying workbook that each student gets to keep.
To find out more about the Role Model Program, visit www.therolemodelprogram.org. To sign up as a volunteer or to make a donation, please call Doty , 262-1080 or Geck, 262-3498.
Contact Cynthia Parkhill at cparkhill@clearlakeobserver.com.
