West Hartford Public Schools has scheduled in-person and virtual training workshops for prospective new mentors.

By Ronni Newton

West Hartford Public Schools is in need of additional mentors to encourage, listen to, and serve as role models for students at all grade levels. Currently there is a waiting list of students who would like to have mentors.

“To be a mentor, you don’t need special skills, just a willingness to listen and to offer friendship, guidance and encouragement to a young person,” Mentor Program Coordinator Carol Wilkas said. “And you’ll be amazed by how much you’ll get out of the experience. When you serve as a mentor, you enrich your own life as much as you do the life of a young person.”

Adult mentor Gary Sekorski said, “This is my ninth year as a mentor supporting children in West Hartford Public Schools Mentor Program. I can honestly say that it’s been one of the most rewarding experiences of my life and I am certain that all the children involved have greatly benefited from the efforts of everyone in the program.”

All mentors meet with their mentees at their school once a week, for roughly an hour. According to Wilkas, sessions can include talking, reading, playing games, making craft projects, researching careers, and most importantly, serving as a role model through sharing and listening.

Mentor Program recruitment and training will he held on Tuesday, Oct. 11, with two different available options.

From noon until 2 p.m., an in-person training session will be held in Room 217 of West Hartford Town Hall. A virtual option is available also on Tuesday, Oct. 11, from 6:30 until 7:30 p.m. Registrants will be provided with the link to the virtual event.

Wilkas will host the event, with Mentor Consulting Group President Dr. Susan G. Weinberger, aka Dr. Mentor, providing the training.

For more information contact Wilkas  at 860-251-9331 or email [email protected].

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