• Rubi Reyes •
• Originally published January 26, 2009 at 9:20 a.m., updated January 26, 2009 at 9:20 a.m.

Johnny Baladez, 9, sat and read with Mary Amador, mentor, in the Help One Student to Succeed classroom.

As a mentor with Help One Student to Succeed, Amador helped Johnny, who is in the second grade at Hopkins Magnet School, read a few pages from his book and study vocabulary words.

They sat in their designated cubical so he could receive the extra help he needs, Janice McMurray, HOSTS instructor at Hopkins, said.

"They help me with my reading," Johnny said about the mentors.

Hopkins has 93 mentors who volunteer to help students Monday to Thursday. The program was implemented at the school during the 2007-08 school year, McMurray said.

"This program helps students to build on their self-esteem and feel successful," she said. "Students know they won't be put down here for not knowing an answer."

Amador, who became a mentor in September 2007 and stays for three sessions each day, has seen Johnny and other students improve.

"I have seen some improvements in his reading," Amador said. "He doesn't need to be behind when there are people here to help."

The Student Reading Inventory is a way for the school to test students on their reading level. Those who do not score at their grade level are recommended to HOSTS, Sulema Salinas, principal, said.

"Students are tested again at the beginning of the school year to see if they have improved in their reading score," McMurray said.

The student must stay in the program the entire school year.

"Once a student has been placed in the HOSTS program they are not taken out," she said.

When the student is tested again at the end of the school year and if they read at their grade level they will be taken out of the program, McMurray said.

"The mentors help me a lot," Johnny said as he finished a crossword puzzle. "I'm reading a lot better now than at the beginning of the school year."

The work he is assigned while being mentored helps him to relate to his class work, he said.

"I like coming to this class because they help me with my writing too," Johnny said.

The students work on assignments McMurray has put together. Teachers are not allowed to send work with the children, but students do work on assignments related to those they are being taught in the classroom, she said.

"We try to stick with a routine schedule for the students," McMurray said.

She encourages those who would like to give back to the community and have 30 minutes to spare to be volunteer mentor.

"Being a mentor has to come from within," Amador said. "You have to want to be here for the children."

• NATIONAL MENTORING MONTH

  January is National Mentoring Month as designated by former President George W. Bush

  Volunteers are being recruited throughout the month of January

  Mentors volunteer 30 minutes Monday to Thursday to help VISD

  Mentors are ...

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NATIONAL MENTORING MONTH

January is National Mentoring Month as designated by former President George W. Bush

Volunteers are being recruited throughout the month of January

Mentors volunteer 30 minutes Monday to Thursday to help VISD

Mentors are needed at Hopkins Magnet School, Patti Welder Magnet School and Memorial High School-Stroman Campus

For more information, call Rhonda Fotiades, executive director, at 361-485-6642 or Jennifer Sourdellia, program coordinator, at 361-218-9886

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