Glenwood mentoring program continues to flourish

Even in the midst of well known programs such as Big Brothers, Big Sisters and others like it, Glenwood’s Mentoring With Heart stands out in the crowd of mentoring programs.

A program that began in the early 2000s, Mentoring With Heart has flourished where similar programs across the country diminished.

Devona Case, who took over as coordinator for the program in September 2017, has been to several state trainings since taking on the position and has found that Glenwood’s mentoring program not only has one of the widest age ranges in the state for mentees, but also has a high percentage of high school students serving as mentors.

With Mentoring With Heart, mentor/mentee pairings are not chosen at random. Mentors are chosen to match the personalities as well as possible with students signed on to be mentees. There is a thorough application process for the mentors and an extensive background check to find the right individuals for the program.

“Some students do spend a little more time on the waiting list,” said Case.

The goal of Mentoring With Heart is, once a student has been placed in the program, to have them stay until graduation.

There are currently 36 pairings in the Glenwood Commuity School District. Most of the mentors are local citizens who simply take a small amount of time every week to meet with their mentee.

“All of our parings meet on school grounds and during school hours,” Case said. “Depending on when and where they meet, we have games, crafts and activities they can do.”

Some pairings will utilize the gym or track when available or meet during lunch.

“I think it’s a great opportunity for the students,” Case added. “In the pairings that meet regularly, we see the students’ attendance improve and their grades improve overall. It’s a gradual process, but we see the students’ relationships with their peers improve over time as well.”

Seth Kaiser, pastor of Trinity Lutheran Church, and a mentor says he really appreciates the time he gets to spend with his mentee.

“We talk about simple things,” Kaiser says. “That’s the key, just being there. It’s been a pleasure watching him grow.”

Kaiser says the program is a wonderful opportunity and there is always a need for more mentors.

“When I was first approached about being a mentor, I thought it would be a huge commitment and take a lot of time. At the most, you’re spending an hour per week to bring a little guidance and stability to a young person’s life,” said Kaiser.

Betsy Rosser, who has now been a mentor for three years, says she has developed a really strong relationship with her mentee and really looks forward to the time they spend together.

“I’m glad to be a positive influence in her life,” Rosser said. “Being a part of this program has been a blessing. “
Rosser believes that a community such as Glenwood could be one of the reasons a program like Mentoring With Heart is so strong. She phrased it as a “tight-knit community.”

Agreeing with Kaiser, Rosser says that more mentors are always needed. To anyone considering being a mentor, she says to “just jump into it.”

“Someone that shows up and cares when they don’t have to is huge,” said Case “They (students) really look forward to it.”

Anyone wanting to inquire about mentoring and becoming part of Mentoring with Heart can email Devona Case at cased@glenwoodschools.org.