South Lakes Mentors Are Learning to Lead

School began a week early for 157 juniors and seniors taking part in the student mentoring program at South Lakes High School.

The teens will spend Monday and Tuesday working on communication, leadership, building trust and other skills they will need for their new roles as student mentors.

The mentors are selected on the basis of teacher recommendations, academic performance and the way they carry themselves in the community, says SLHS principal Bruce Butler.

"This program is one of the most important things that goes on in the school," he said. "The kids take ownership and leadership and pass on a culture of the school. It is the right thing to do to care and be a role model."

The student mentors will be matched with five freshmen. They are there to answer questions, make them feel welcome, even just be a friendly face in the crowd of more than 2,000 students at the school. Students and mentors meet once a month during school hours.

"It makes us a tight community," says senior Kirstie Fleger. "I love working with people - one of the best things you can do is to make their day better. Last year, I had a difficult group of freshman. I told them to get involved; that this is a great school and that they should be a part of it. It took a little while, but they started connecting."

The school has had student mentors for seven years. They bring in experts from Core Trainings, a New Hampshire based company that does workshops on several school topics, including peer mentoring, staff development and leadership.

"Upperclassmen have a vast knowledge of 'I've been there,' " says Dana Hult, co-founder, with his wife, Deb, of Core Trainings.

Butler agrees.

"You are passing on what it means to be a Seahawk," he told a group of mentors. "It is the right thing to care and be a role model."

At Monday's training, a group of mentors worked on everything from breaking the ice to gaining trust. The skills they are learning - communications, empathy, leadership, community relations, stepping out of their comfort zone, among them - will help them through college and whatever career path they choose, says Dana Hult.