Mentor Karen Dorsey, who has donated her time to MODEL for three years, is pictured with her mentees at Blendon Middle School.
M.O.D.E.L. (Mentors Opening Doors, Enriching Lives) has successfully completed its third year in the Westerville City School District, and continues to grow each year. This program targets middle school females and originated out of the Student Connections initiative in 2015-2016 as a larger grant funded by Westerville Education Foundation. The MODEL program is committed to connecting students to community women mentors and their peers while focusing its monthly meetings on self-esteem, goals, positive choices and thinking about the future.
MODEL began at one middle school and has expanded to three while serving more than 140 students this school year. Led by district staff Cynthia DeVese and Tami Santa and strongly supported by the counselors and administration at each building, this program continues to build momentum. Santa said, “MODEL continues to make an impact on many of our students. This program could not be done without the incredible community mentors who donate their time each month.”
This school year, students participated in monthly sessions with topics covering making positive choices, controlling your own future, peer influences, community dangers, self-care, goal setting and academic planning. MODEL seeks to engage, inspire and encourage these young females as they prepare for high school. Mentors help provide leadership, wisdom and support to the students each month.