Share your expertise: Volunteer to be a school district mentor

MANCHESTER – Members of the community who wish to become mentors and offer their work sites as part of an extended learning opportunity for high school students in Manchester can apply online at www.mansd.org/1-000-mentors.

Manchester School District, along with Southern New Hampshire University and the National Center for Competency-Based Learning, launched the 1,000 Mentors program to connect community members, businesses and organizations directly with the schools, expanding the number of ways students can earn academic credit outside of school.

“Collaboration is essential for growing the extended learning opportunities we currently offer our students,” said superintendent Dr. Debra Livingston. “We’re excited to work with organizations that support the concept of competency-based learning and want to help us reach our goals.”

The 1,000 Mentors program will emphasize students’ understanding of a subject or skill set. The mentors will be recruited, trained and matched with Manchester students. Expectations for both mentors and students in the program will be explicit, and achievement will be clearly defined. Students will earn academic credit by demonstrating mastery of concepts and skills.

Anyone in the community – doctors, lawyers, electricians, software developers, news reporters, painters, musicians – is welcome to take part in the 1,000 Mentors initiative; every specialty and area of discipline will be considered for participation. The online application is the first step of the process. For more information, visit www.mansd.org.