Q & As for Mentoring Program for At-Risk Fairfax County Public School 9th and 10th Students

These questions and answers further explain our mentoring program for underserved Fairfax County Public School (FCPS) 9th and 10th grade students. The program, described on this page, is offered to members of Pathways communities in collaboration with our partner Undaunted Futures.

After you review this,  tell us if you’re interested and would like to learn more.

Do I need to meet in person with my mentee?

No, not if your situation precludes it. However, an occasional in-person meeting, or participating with your mentee in group outings or social events, can strengthen your relationship.  Undaunted Futures will organize group activities.  All mentees are invited even if their mentors are unable to attend.

How long is each mentoring session, and at what time of day?

Sessions typically last 30 minutes.  Zoom/video sessions can be scheduled with students in the evenings. In person sessions are at designated locations in the school or at a nearby coffee shop, usually during lunch or right after school.

You may also participate in group outings and meetings from time to time with your mentee.

Thirty minutes per mentoring session translates into less than 20 total hours of one-on-one mentoring during an academic year.  You should expect, however, to put additional time into training and reviewing mentoring resources, preparation for your mentoring sessions, texting and other communications with your mentee, field trips and group meetings, and travel time to and from any in-person mentoring sessions. Mentors need to understand this is a meaningful commitment of their time and energy.

Wondering if I’m qualified to mentor?

Assuming you meet the eligibility requirements, the answer is yes! There’s training and guidance offered, and opportunities for the mentors to meet together to learn from and with each other.

What happens if I can’t make a scheduled meeting?

No problem. You’re encouraged to notify your mentee as soon as you know. Mentees do, however, need to count on their mentors to communicate, to build trust.

How long will my commitment last?

Typically mentoring starts at the beginning of the school year and lasts throughout the year. If the mentor and mentee wish, mentoring can continue throughout high school. 

What kind of training and support can I expect?

Three types are provided:

First, during training by FCPS and Undaunted Futures, you’ll be provided with lots of information, including manuals and other resources that cover areas like conversation topics, suggested activities to engage in with your mentee, building different stages of the mentor-mentee relationship, listening skills, building trust, determining goals, encouraging and inspiring your mentee, and mentoring best practices.

Second, Pathways mentors will have opportunities to meet and otherwise connect with each other to discuss best practices and ideas, and to support each other. Outside speakers might be invited in from time to time. Pathways mentors will also be encouraged to join groups of two or more other mentors (for example, twinning, by pairing an older mentor with a younger mentor, or a mentor from another community) to work from time to time with their mentees and attend outings together.

Third, representatives of FCPS, our partner Undaunted Futures and the Harraseeket team will be available to discuss questions and concerns, and will check in with you from time to time.

How long will the training take?

There will be two training sessions early this fall: One conducted by FCPS, and one by Undaunted Futures. Each will be on Zoom and will last 1-2 hours.  We’ll offer multiple training dates to accommodate schedules.

Will I expect to need to tutor my mentee?

FCPS advises mentors to not tutor.  FCPS has other tutoring organizations that you can suggest for your mentee.

Will I feel pressured to support my mentee financially?

It is perfectly fine to not provide any financial support, but small gifts are acceptable (e.g. picking up lunch).  Mentors are not permitted to give  more than $100 in total gifts to their mentees for the year.  Mentors should never give mentees cash.

Will I need to share my personal information (phone number, address) with my mentee?

Mentors will use an online platform provided by our partner Undaunted Futures, which allows texting, phone calls and video conferences without disclosing your phone number, email or address. 

Should I be apprehensive about mentoring a student from a different ethnic, socio-economic or cultural background?

While mentors with common backgrounds and experiences can be effective, so can mentors from different backgrounds and experiences. The training and resources will offer you an opportunity to make you a high-quality mentor who can make a difference in the lives of students from ethnic, socio-economic and cultural backgrounds different from yours.  The training program also covers cultural sensitivity issues.

How can I be sure that proper boundaries are maintained, to avoid inappropriate behavior or appearances of problems?

The training and materials will help you understand how to avoid risks and maintain a healthy mentor-mentee relationship. This includes several rules concerning when, where and how to meet with your mentee, as well as appropriate and inappropriate topics of conversation.

What happens if I see reasons to be concerned for the physical or mental health of my mentee?

During training, you’ll learn protocols for mentors to report issues to specified FCPS administrators.

What if my relationship with my mentee is faltering, or doesn’t work?

The training will offer tips and resources to help you deal with this. Occasionally, new mentors are paired with mentees if circumstances warrant.

I’d prefer to mentor FCPS middle school students.  Is that possible?

Yes, although it would not be part of this Pathways program. We can put you in touch with the FCPS mentor coordinator to make that happen.

When do I need to make a commitment to this?

Any time up until you are assigned a mentee, which will occur after you submit your application and are screened and trained early this Fall. 

How can I express my interest and/or talk with someone to learn more?

Just reach out to us using the button below. We ‘re delighted to chat, and can share with you a video recording of a one-hour information session held on May 22, 2022.