Andy Cagle, community schools coordinator, has spent much of his summer going to area churches, businesses and nonprofits to recruit volunteers.
"I try to get people who would be willing to give some time," Cagle said.
He's looking for a number of qualities, such as having strong interpersonal skills and having a caring personality, for potential mentors.
"We are very flexible with how we are going to be doing this," Cagle said. "Getting mentors in the school is a first step."
Cagle says he's eyeing St. Andrews for possible volunteers as well.
"I think they are going to be a good source of mentors for us," Cagle said.
He expects the program will take a while to get off the ground.
"It will take a while to identify students who have need," Cagle said.
Cagle says mentoring will go to those students most in need.
"It will be the kids that show the risk signs – poor grades, discipline issues, parental involvement," Cagle said. "It will not be demographically based."
The program will emphasize on the needs of the students, Cagle said.
"We really don't have a set 'you're a mentor-tutor' or 'you're a volunteer.' We are going to take it case-by-case to see what is best for the kid."
The initial training will be held Sept. 10 at 6 p.m. at the A.B. Gibson Center. The Coalition for Community Schools will perform the training.
Volunteers will also have to pass a criminal background check before they can mentor.
Mentors will them be assigned to one of several schools that will be chosen to pilot the program.
Cagle said their may be other options for people who aren't comfortable mentoring a student. He's also looking for "folks who can help our kids with college applications and school applications."
The key part, Cagle says, is mobilizing the community to support educating children in Scotland County.
"This community has a lot of resources to provide for our students. We need to bring all that to the table to provide for our kids."
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