Schools

New Valley View Parent Mentor Program Helping Teachers and Students

John R. Tibbott and Wood View Elementary Schools have both launched a Parent Mentor Program.

By Delorise Ivy

John R. Tibbott and Wood View Elementary Schools have launched a Parent Mentor Program in cooperation with the Southwest Suburban Immigrant Project (SSIP).

Funded by the Illinois State Board of Education, the SSIP Parent Mentor Program Initiative’s goal is to recruit and train parents to assist teachers in the classroom for two hours a day. Parent mentors are assigned to a classroom (not their own child’s) where work with children one-on-one and in small groups.

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The eight parent volunteers at each school are led by a coordinator.  Julieta Chavez handles the duties at Tibbott and Isabel Diaz serves as parent coordinator at Wood View.

Volunteers attend a week of training before they are placed with teachers. They work in the classroom for two hours a day Monday through Thursday and participate in ongoing leadership and self-development training on Friday mornings.

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According to SSIP’s Jose Vera, the program benefits the teachers, the parents and ultimately the students. Parent mentors provide extra eyes, ears and hands in the classroom. They also can give extra attention to students who need it, particularly English Language Learners, many of whom need extra support in grades K-3 because they are learning literacy in two languages.

“The parent mentors have become an integral part of our classrooms,” said Wood View Principal Mark Stange.  “The whole program has been a positive experience for the students, parents, and staff.”

“These individuals have given it their all and taken their role in the classroom very seriously.  They have been assisting with everything from listening to students read to reviewing important math concepts,” added Tibbott Principal Ana Wilson.  “These incredible volunteers are definitely having a huge positive impact on the culture of our school.   We are grateful to their generous support.”

As a side benefit for volunteers, the program provides a pipeline to bilingual teaching and other careers. Plus parent participants develop leadership skills necessary to create positive change in the school and community. 

Editor's note: This article was submitted by Valley View School District 365U. 


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