Fourth Graders Take on Big Responsibility as Mini-Mentors

The 2015-16 Mini-Mentors pose with their interviewers.

At Louise Cabaniss Elementary School, it's never too early to become a great role model. That's why each year, a small group of hardworking and motivated students are selected to step up to the plate and become Mini-Mentors for their peers.

The Cabaniss Mini-Mentors are a council made up of fourth grade students with big responsibilities and even bigger hearts. They are committed to peer tutoring, community outreach for campus events and programs, delivering the school announcements, and organizing various projects.

The selection process for these mentors is rigorous and gives the students the opportunity to demonstrate their commitment to the program.

After being nominated by their classroom teacher, the nominees have to develop and present a resume detailing their accomplishments, academic goals, extracurricular involvement, family value system, future aspirations, and references.

The Cabaniss Cowboys select
six Mini-Mentors each year.

The next phase of the process includes interviews that challenge students to elaborate on their resume amongst an interview team of four teachers. If students make it past that portion of the process, they compete in a debate-style setting to prove to a panel of judges that they have what it takes to be a member of the Cabaniss Mini-Mentor team.

Out of more than 33 nominees, six dedicated students are finally selected.

Sherry Smith, the lead ESL teacher at Cabaniss Elementary, and math specialist Alethia Williams, oversee the program and assist with each phase of the process.

“The Mini-Mentors are like the role models for our school,” said Smith. “They are responsible, honest, hardworking, and very kind-hearted.”

Cabaniss Mini-Mentors are trained to be effective, age-appropriate mentors. They meet weekly with their younger mentees and help out with various campus activities.