Mentor's Responsibilities

The Nobel Laureate, James Heckman, makes the distinction between "cognitive" and "non-cognitive" skills when accessing educational performance. His study of urban schools concluded that while the urban schools are adequately delivering knowledge (cognitive skills), educational and behavior outcomes are below expectations because "non-cognitive" skills are inadequate. These skills, he said, must be developed no later than the elementary school years. Heckman found mentoring to be the best method of augmenting, alongside the parent, the development of "non-cognitive" skills. Heckman concludes "There is substantial evidence that mentoring and motivational programs oriented toward disadvantaged teenagers are effective." (Heckman: Inequality in America: What role for Human Capital Policies?, page 147, The MIT Press, 2003)

Non-cognitive skills development are influenced primarily by 1) Support, 2) Empowerment, 3) Setting of Boundaries & Expectations, and 4) Guidance in the Constructive Use of Time. These influences by the mentor, in time, will cause discernable changes in the below five non-cognitive areas. These changes lead directly to improved educational and behavioral outcomes:

1. Commitment to Learning

2. Positive Values (caring, integrity, honesty, responsible)

3. Socially Competent (decision making, culturally adjusted, resistance to the negative, conflict resolution)

4. Positive Identity (self-esteem, sense of purpose, positive view of future)

5. Spiritual Health (relationship and understanding of God)

[See the "Mentor's Checklist for Mentee Development"}

Mentor's Role

Thus the driving principal of Vision Kids is the vitality of the match which is managed by the mentor with the oversight and support of the mentor coordinator. The mentor provides love manifested in support, empowerment, the setting of boundaries & expectations, and guidance in the constructive use of time. This selfless love evolves hope leading to significant improvements in the mentee’s commitment to learning, positive values, social competence, positive identity and spiritual maturity.

Mentor's Monthly Contacts:
By being a friend, a guide, a person who encourages and sets expectations, hope is built which is the fuel of personal growth. The mentor commits to a long-term relationship with his mentee by contacting/meeting with his/her mentee at least four times a month as follows:

1. Monthly Vision Kids Event (scheduled by Mentor Coordinator).

2. Monthly a personal visit at lunch, at school, or in mentee's home.

3. Two additional visits or phone calls each month.

The mentor provides a record of his/her contacts so the Mentor Coordinator can monitor progress and provide guidance and help in developing and maintaining a healthy match. Click here for the web Contact Report.

Click here to find out how the Contact Report is used and why it is important.

1Cor13:

1 If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal. 2 And if I have prophetic powers, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have all faith, so as to remove mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. 3 If I give away all I have, and if I deliver up my body to be burned, but have not love, I gain nothing.

4 Love is patient and kind; love does not envy or boast; it is not arrogant 5 or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; 6 it does not rejoice at wrongdoing, but rejoices with the truth. 7 Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.

8 Love never ends. As for prophecies, they will pass away; as for tongues, they will cease; as for knowledge, it will pass away. 9 For we know in part and we prophesy in part, 10 but when the perfect comes, the partial will pass away. 11 When I was a child, I spoke like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I gave up childish ways. 12 For now we see in a mirror dimly, but then face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I have been fully known.

13 So now faith, hope, and love abide, these three; but the greatest of these is love.