Mentoring

Kansas City Public Schools has embraced a district-wide strategy to engage more students in school-based mentoring programs. Mentoring within schools has become an increasingly popular and effective way to bring a caring adult or older peer relationship to the lives of more youth. The school setting provides an opportunity to reach students in an environment that also allows access to educational, recreational, and developmental support to help enhance mentoring relationships.

Kansas City Public Schools offers a diverse portfolio of mentoring options for community volunteers seeking to mentor youth. Our programs are designed to equip each student with the unique type of support that best meets their needs. KCPS Mentoring Programs is the recipient of the Outstanding Educational Achievement Program Award (2018), awarded by the South Kansas City Alliance.

Success Mentors

Kansas City Public Schools was selected by the Obama Administration as 1 of 30 school districts in the nation to participate in and implement a groundbreaking campaign to address chronic absenteeism in public schools: the My Brother’s Keeper (MBK) Success Mentors Initiative. The MBK Success Mentors program aims to connect students with dedicated Success Mentors in the first-ever effort to use an evidence-based and data-driven mentor model to support students and tackle chronic absenteeism.

Success Mentors serve as motivators, problem solvers, connectors, and advocates for students in grades 6-9. They form supportive relationships, identify and celebrate students’ strengths, promote their attendance every day, and connect them with the necessary resources to keep them on track and thriving.

What Can Success Mentors Expect?

Success Mentors will:

• Be matched with a student in grades 6 – 10 at Kansas City Public Schools
• Attend an initial 2 hour, pre-match training
• Serve as a positive role model and friend, promote good attendance and goal setting
• Commit to supporting their mentee for an entire school year
• Check in with their mentees for 30 minutes on a weekly basis; at minimum
• Invest in the present and future success of a student in Kansas City Public Schools

How to Apply

Complete this application to become a Success Mentor. Someone from the Office of Equity, Inclusion and Innovation will be in touch with you regarding next steps. Please email questions to mentoring@kcpublicschools.org.

Lunch Buddies

The KCPS Lunch Buddies is a program in which a mentor is matched with an elementary school student in grades K-5 and visits the school each week to eat lunch with their mentee. Lunch Buddies provide guidance, support, encouragement, and friendship.

What can a Lunch Buddy Expect?

Lunch Buddies will:

• Be matched with an elementary school student in grades K – 5 at Kansas City Public Schools
• Attend an initial 2 hour, pre-match training
• Serve as a positive role model and friend
• Commit to supporting their mentee for an entire school year
• Check in with their mentees over one lunch period on a weekly basis; at minimum
• Invest in the present and future success of a student in Kansas City Public Schools

How to Apply

Complete this application to become a Lunch Buddy. Someone from the Office of Equity, Inclusion and Innovation will be in touch with you regarding next steps. Please email questions to mentoring@kcpublicschools.org.

Career Mentors

The KCPS Career Mentoring program matches working or retired business professionals to students in grades 11 – 12. Career Mentors provide career guidance, career exposure, and career planning support for them as they begin their transition into college or the workforce.

What Can Career Mentors Expect?

Career Mentors will:

• Be matched with a student, or group of students, in grades 11 – 12 at Kansas City Public Schools
• Attend an initial 2 hour, pre-match training
• Assist students with learning more about the knowledge and skills required to be successful in your career field
• Commit to supporting their mentee for an entire school year
• Check in with their mentees once per month; at minimum
• Connect students to workshops, internships and networking opportunities when possible
• Invest in the present and future success of a student in Kansas City Public Schools

How to Apply

Complete this application to become a Career Mentor. Someone from the Office of Equity, Inclusion and Innovation will be in touch with you regarding next steps. Please email questions mentoring@kcpublicschools.org.

M.O.C.H.A.

The Men of Color, Honor, and Ambition (M.O.C.H.A.) mentoring program is dedicated to developing young high school men to achieve academic success. M.O.C.H.A. is open to high school male students entering the 10th grade, and although it is open to participants of any race or ethnicity, it has specifically been designed through the lens of male students of color.

M.O.C.H.A. is a partnership with the University of Missouri Division of Inclusion, Diversity & Equity and Kansas City Public Schools Office of Equity, Inclusion and Innovation. M.O.C.H.A. receives partial funding from the Prime Health Foundation.

Our Vision

M.O.C.H.A. participants will achieve academic excellence, graduate from high school, attend a college or university, and be empowered to become successful leaders and role models in their respective careers and communities.

Program Goals

• Increase the retention rates of male students of color
• Foster a sense of community among participants
• Support and challenge men of color to achieve academic excellence
• Develop an increased awareness surrounding business acumen, etiquette, professional attire,
• Academic support mechanisms, and social activities
• Promote involvement and inclusion in leadership activities
• Promote community service and engagement

Five Foundational Pillars of M.O.C.H.A.

• Ambition
• Achievement
• Integrity
• Service
• Health And Wellness

*M.O.C.H.A. mentors are recruited from the Kansas City community by Dr. Derald Davis, Assistant Superintendent of Equity, Inclusion and Innovation.