November 2007 News

Monday, November 26, 2007

Professional Women and Female College Students Sought for Santa Barbara High School’s Mentor/TIA Program

Santa Barbara High School is enlisting the help of UCSB female students and professional women from the community to serve as “tias” [“tia” is “aunt” in Spanish] to high school Latinas. According to Alejandra Gutierrez, Career Center technician, “The purpose of this mentor program is to form a community connection between professional community members and students.” She continued, “Everyone is encouraged to participate in the Mentor Program. They do not have to be Latina—it would help because they would be familiar with the students background—but the main goal of this program is to expose to students to the world outside of their homes.” The Mentor/TIA Program was formed in school year 2006-07 to provide positive role models for Latina students, encourage them to pursue higher education, and promote stronger women.

The mentor’s commitment is one hour per week, three times a month. Mentors must complete an information sheet, submit a resume, and fill out a questionnaire. All mentors must have fingerprint clearance and be TB tested, which is arranged through Janet Carroll in the districts’ Personnel Office. Most of all the mentors are paired 1:1. However, if a mentor wishes to work with more then one student they are paired with a maximum of two students.

Mentor qualifications include punctuality, open mindedness, willing to take a teen under their wing, provide academic encouragement, help with homework, and mentor a student a minimum of one academic year.

For more information on the Mentor/TIA Program, contact Alejandra Gutierrez, Santa Barbara High School Career Center, (805) 966-9101, extension 225, or agutierrez@sbsdk12.org