Steven B. Knudsen Chair, District II | Gwinnett County Public Schools
Steven B. Knudsen Chair, District II | Gwinnett County Public Schools
The Gwinnett County Public Schools (GCPS) Community-Based Mentoring Program is seeking 150 volunteers to mentor students for the upcoming 2024-25 school year. The program, now in its 15th year, matches mentors with students in grades 4 through 12. James Rayford, Director of the GCPS Community-Based Mentoring Program, along with his team, is collaborating with business and community leaders to recruit mentors and secure financial resources. The program aims to support over 1,000 students this year.
“I’m proud of the community mentors who have consistently shown up to make an impact in our students’ lives,” said Rayford. “They gave our student mentees something priceless: their time. When a student mentee shares how they have benefited from having a mentor, it is very rewarding. Earlier this summer, a mentor shared that he still communicates with his mentee four years after graduating high school.”
The program emphasizes the Power of One, suggesting that one caring adult can significantly influence a child's life by fostering community connections and belonging through individual relationships. “Our goal is to invest in more students to ensure all who need support receive it in the form of an adult mentor,” Rayford stated. Volunteer mentors can engage in either one-on-one or small-group mentoring sessions.
Mentoring offers various benefits such as improved communication skills, increased confidence, enhanced problem-solving abilities, greater motivation and accountability, professional networking opportunities, and preparation for college and careers.
For further information about the Community-Based Mentoring Program, interested individuals can call 678-301-7936 or visit their webpage.
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