The TeamMates Mentoring Program

  TeamMates is a youth mentoring program created by Dr. Tom and Nancy Osborne. TeamMates at Northeast High School is an approved school activity designed to increase the support and academic success of identified students. TeamMates pairs a student who has demonstrated potential with an adult who is volunteering. The two meet once weekly at school, during school hours. The role of the mentor is to be a friend, a guide, and someone who can offer support and advice to a student to help that student work toward a successful high school experience and beyond. TeamMates exists throughout the Lincoln Public Schools and elsewhere in the state of Nebraska. LNE TeamMates includes a diverse group of students who are working on maximizing their potential! Students who are in TeamMates include:
*Student athletes.
*Student club members.
*Honor roll students.
*Members of the LNE HS SCORE program.

   Criteria for nomination to join TeamMates: There is a waiting list to join the TeamMates program at Northeast High School. Most students in TeamMates at Northeast were already members of the program when they enrolled at LNE HS as ninth graders. Students interested in joining the program or adults interested in nominating students for membership in the TeamMates mentoring program should consider whether the student can fulfill the responsibilities of the youth TeamMate noted below. Nominated students are not automatically placed in the program. Students must demonstrate their commitment to making the mentoring experience a successful one.

Responsibilities of the student (youth TeamMate)
include the following:
*Meet with your mentor regularly.
*Attend meetings when they are scheduled.
*Inform your mentor ahead of time when possible about conflicts with scheduled meeting times.
*Make an effort to get acquainted with your adult TeamMate.
*Maintain consistent attendance at school.
*Show academic progress.
*Demonstrate good citizenship, especially the six pillars of character.

Responsibilities of the school include the following:
*Communicate with TeamMates mentors about changes in the school calendar which may impact meeting times.
*Provide academic support to youth TeamMates.
*Provide institutional support and a welcoming environment to the adult TeamMates who have volunteered their time.
*Build school/staff/community awareness of the TeamMates program.
*Coordinate school, student and mentor schedules for meeting times.
*Recognize the contributions of adult TeamMates and celebrate the successes of youth TeamMates.

Responsibilities of the mentor (adult TeamMate) include the following:
*Serve as a positive role model for a young person.
*Meet with your youth TeamMate regularly.
*Be an active listener to your youth TeamMate.
*Notify school and student of changes in meeting times or meeting cancellations when possible
*Commit to mentoring a student for a term of not less than one academic year.
*If unable to meet for a week or a significant period of time, contact youth TeamMate by phone or mail to maintain the relationship.

Documented benefits to the student:
*Students report that their friendship with the mentor is the primary benefit of the program.
*Mentoring helps a student realize his or her potential and to capitalize on oneÕs unique strengths.
*A number of studies have found increased academic achievement and socialization for students who have mentors.
A June, 1999 study found increased reading achievement for students in a mentoring program. A 1998 study found students who were in a mentoring program were less likely to be truant or to use drugs or alcohol.
Mentoring encourages responsible behavior!
*Youth TeamMates benefit from the resourcefulness and skills of their mentors.

Documented benefits to the school:
Over 500 hours of mentoring occurred at Northeast High School through the TeamMates mentoring program in the 1999-2000 school year. LNE HS TeamMates mentors include highly talented people ranging from retirees to college students and adult professionals. The school benefits from the skills and resources of these dedicated volunteers!

Documented benefits to the community:
*TeamMates builds a ÔquadrangleÕ of support between student, mentor, school and family.
*50% of youth TeamMates at LNE HS were employed for the summer of 2000.
*50% of youth TeamMates at LNE HS were participating in a summer camp/enrichment experience for the summer of 2000.
*LNE HS TeamMates took an active role in pursuing quality employment and enrichment opportunities during the summer of 2000.

Academic achievement of youth TeamMates (everyone benefits):
*56% of the youth TeamMates at LNE HS earned 30 or more credit hours second semester of 1999-2000 (showing grade-level attainment).
*40% of the youth TeamMates at LNE HS showed significant gains in credit hours earned from first to second semester of 1999-2000.
Some students doubled the number of credits earned from first to second semester!