Lumpkin Family Connection | Lumpkin Challenge Course | Mentor Program

Mentor Contacts

Blackburn Elementary School
706-864-8180
Susan Burrell, Principal
Kimberly Beck-Counselor
kbeck@lumpkin.k12.ga.us 
Jill Horne-Family Advocate*           
jhorne@lumpkin.k12.ga.us

Long Branch Elementary School
706-864-5361
Sharon Head, Principal
Carol Spooner, School Counselor *
cspooner@lumpkin.k12.ga.us
Marianne Beliveavu, Family Advocate
mbeliveau@lumpkin.k12.ga.us            

Lumpkin County Elementary School
706-864-3254
Pennie Fowler, Principal
Matt Cole, School Counselor *
mcole@lumpkin.k12.ga.us
Gwen Brock, Family Advocate
gbrock@lumpkin.k12.ga.us

Lumpkin County Middle School
706-864-6189
Rick Conner, Principal
Diane Orado, School Counselor*
(7th & 8th Grade)
dorado@lumpkin.k12.ga.us
Brian Kendrick, School Counselor (6th Grade & PLS)
bkendrick@lumpkin.k12.ga.us
Mariane Beliveavu, Family Advocate           
mbeliveau@lumpkin.k12.ga.us
Beth Grindle, Curriculum Specialist
bgrindle@lumpkin.k12.ga.us

Lumpkin County High School
706- 864-6186
Mike Tinney, Principal
Mary Smith, School Counselor*
msmith@lumpkin.k12.ga.us
Edna Chisena, School Counselor
Adria McCormack, Family Advocate           
amccromack@lumpkin.k12.ga.us
Brooke Whitt, Workplace Readness
bwhitt@lumpkin.k12.ga.us

Lumpkin County Family ConnectionRoger Greer, Youth Development & Challenge Course Manager           
706-867-7047
rgreer@lumpkin.k12.ga.us
Brenda Cronan, Family Connection Coordinator
706-265-8389
bcronan@lumpkin.k12.ga.us

Why is there a need for Mentors?

For children and youth, tese are difficult times. They face problems within their homes; they have difficulty mastering academics, and they often have few goals for their future. Some of our youth are at risk of failing and dropping out of school. Many of these youth simply need a special friend and role model to help them along their way.

You can make a difference in a student's life by volunteering a few hours each month to develop a strong and reliable friendship. You can be the positive influence that will help this student find meaning and balance in his or her life. As a Mentor you will have the opportunity to encourage this young person to use his or her abilities to succeed in school and to take advantage of other opportunities that will come his way.

What do Mentors do?

Each Mentor relationship is different. As a relationship develops, it is our hope that it will meet the needs of both the student and the volunteer. In general, a Mentor serves as a friend, guide, advisor, and role model. The Mentor serves as a person the student may turn to for encouragement and support. Mentors care. They understand the value of education and are willing to reach out and help others. They help the student dream as they teach them to set short-term and long-term goals for themselves. The Mentor and the Mentee share experiences and the friendship is very rewarding to both parties.

Three ways to get involved:
  1. Individual mentors are matched with a student with the goal of developing a friendship and to encourage that student to reach their full potential, both at school and in life.
  2. Classroom mentors are matched with a teacher with the goal of developing relationships with students in the classroom encouraging all the students. Volunteers may work to encourage or help different students in different areas. Classroom mentors are not assigned to one student.
  3. Tutors are matched to a subject area or tutoring area. Volunteers work with teachers and school administers to provide quality opportunity for students that need help in different subject areas to reach their potential.
      
How are the students chosen?

Students are identified through their school guidance counselors. They may be referred by parents, teachers, community leaders, or by personal request. They are young people with abilities, but in many cases, they are not reaching their full potential. As volunteers are available, students from the school counselors' lists are given the opportunity to participate in the program and parent permission is gained. Only students and families wishing to participate in the program are matched with a Mentor.

What a Mentor is not.
  • They are not surrogate parents. They are friends and role models.
  • They are not financial institutes, spending large amounts of money on the student. They are individuals who will help the student to network within the community to find resources and service needed for his or her success.
  • They do not serve as a confidant to actions that would harm the student or others. They are guides to healthy living, being proactive in their friendship. Mentors should report harmful actions or concerns to the school counselors.

Software: Microsoft Office

How are Mentors Trained?

There is new volunteer orientation training for all Mentors. Volunteers are encouraged to participate in volunteer-mentor luncheons throughout the school year. This is an opportunity to network with other volunteers and we provide additional training through guest speakers that will assist Mentors in developing relationships that will be smooth flowing and beneficial to the child and the volunteer. In additional, we have a resource library for volunteers to utilize. There are many on-line resources as well.

Mentor Resources