Mentoring Partnership of Minnesota

Math, Science Mentors in High Demand: Group Seeks Volunteers Who Can Help Kids Hone Skills, Compete Globally

When Harrison Loch gets together with his mentor, Coleen Christensen, the 10-year-old Lakeville boy likes to eat pizza and play computer games. But what he really enjoys is their hunts for fossils or rocks. Harrison loves science, so the two have explored copper mines and visited the Science Museum of Minnesota and the National Weather Service office in Chanhassen.

It's no surprise they spent last Saturday afternoon at RiverCentre, where Minnesota companies were demonstrating how engineers design plates for the machines that make cereal and how to build an indoor rocket out of 2-liter bottles, tire tubes and PVC pipes.  They were attending the kickoff of the state's observance of National Mentoring Month. "When something like this comes up, we definitely try to make it work," Christensen said.

Minnesota has about 170,000 mentors like Christensen working with kids statewide. But more are needed - especially those who have science, technology, engineering and math skills.

Joellen Gonder, executive director of the Mentoring Partnership of Minnesota, said the group is focusing on finding mentors in these areas because more volunteers are being asked to help their mentees with homework. With the local push to increase science and math achievement so Minnesota students can compete with their peers around the globe, it made sense.  "Kids in Minnesota aren't doing as well as we would like in the science and math areas," Gonder said. "And that means they might not be ready for post-secondary (education) and the future work force."

The Mentoring Partnership estimates there are 250,000 students who could benefit from a mentor. And many businesses are trying to help by encouraging employees to mentor children. Tom Teigen, communications director for the Minnesota Business Partnership, said at least 67 of the group's member businesses are doing this.

For example, dozens of businesses help schools with their FIRST Robotics teams. The program's goal is to get kids interested in science and technology through Lego competitions for middle school students and a robot project for high school students.

And 300 Medtronic employees volunteer for tutoring and mentoring programs. Teigen said pushing for more science and math mentors is a no-brainer for the group. "Everyone is concerned about STEM- (science, technology, engineering, math) related skills and kids' interest in these fields," he said. "And we hope that focus might be a good hook to get people interested in mentoring."

Gonder said kids who have mentors usually do better in school and avoid risky behavior such as drug or alcohol use. Plus, mentors can serve as role models and help children realize their full potential, she said.

"Some of these kids are living day-to-day," Gonder said. "Many times these kids develop more hopes and plans for the future that many kids who don't have mentors might not have."

Megan Boldt covers education and can be reached at mboldt@pioneerpress.com or 651-228-5495.

Want To Learn More About Mentoring?

Visit the Mentoring Partnership of Minnesota's Web site at MentoringWorks.org. The statewide organization helps local groups connect mentors and children.