By Sue Loughlin
TERRE HAUTE — Several years ago, the African American Mentor Group began working with black male students in the Vigo County School Corp. to help them succeed.
Mentors encourage students to strive for excellence in academics, attitude and behavior and to value family and community.
On Wednesday, the school district’s office of diversity hosted a luncheon to recognize many of the longtime mentors and to appeal to others in the community to get involved.
Superintendent Dan Tanoos made a personal appeal to those attending to join the ranks of mentors. The program has made a difference and has led to improved graduation rates for black males, he said. The rates are among the best in the state, he said.
“I implore you, I beg you, to sign up to be a mentor,” Tanoos said to those gathered at Sarah Scott Middle School.
There still may be some areas of concern involving black students and the school district, but the mentoring program has helped address some of those concerns, Tanoos said.
“We’re not perfect,” Tanoos said. “We’re here to say we understand that, help us to become better, get involved.”
If at-risk students aren’t mentored in positive ways, they may be more susceptible to negative influences out there, he said.
“We can make a difference in the life of every African-American child in this school system,” Tanoos said.
Indiana Department of Education statistics show that in 2007-08, the graduation rate for black Vigo County School Corp. students was 71.6 percent; statewide, it was 59.5 percent.
Ernie Thompson, the district’s Project 48 liaison, also coordinates the district’s mentoring programs.
He attributed much of the district’s improved black student graduation rates to the work of mentors. “It’s because of people like yourself who find it important to spend one hour a week with a child to help build self-esteem, to help create leaders,” Thompson said.
Tanoos thanked the longtime mentors who have been involved with the African-American Mentor Program since it began.
He concluded by saying that if people don’t step up and make a commitment, “We have nothing to complain about.”
Carolyn Roberts, the school district’s diversity consultant, put it succinctly: “We need you,” she said. Her office funded the luncheon through a grant.
After the luncheon, she said that several people stepped forward and volunteered to mentor, including members of the community and ISU students.
About 40 people attended, including current mentors and some students who have benefited from mentors.
Among those mentored is Nathaniel Hutchinson, an 11th-grader at Terre Haute South Vigo High School, who is a member of Teaming Up for the Future (TUFF), coordinated by Tony Brewer. Brewer is the school’s athletic director.
“TUFF is a great mentoring program to help us get more focused on college” and to help students prepare for life after high school, Hutchinson said.
There aren’t many black male educators in the school system, he noted.
The group also does community service projects. TUFF “has given me more confidence,” Hutchinson said, and he tries to mentor younger students.
Tyler Evans, a South Vigo sophomore, said that participating in TUFF and having Brewer as a role model has helped him focus on what he wants to do after high school. He’s interested in the engineering field, he said.
Brewer said the students he works with are smart and skillful. As a mentor, he is able to provide guidance and help them hone their skills and direct their energies.
Anyone interested in mentoring can contact Ernie Thompson or Carolyn Roberts at (812) 462-4011.
Sue Loughlin can be reached at (812) 231-4235 or sue.loughlin@tribstar.com.
