Lowell Area Schools highlights 7-year Kids Hope mentor program, cites boost to student belonging

Alta Elementary Principal Paul Paces and partners told the Lowell Area Schools Board of Education on May 12 that a seven‑year partnership with Kids Hope USA provides weekly one‑to‑one mentoring intended to increase students’ sense of belonging.

The program pairs a volunteer mentor from a local church with one child in the school for about an hour each week; mentors are screened, complete a criminal background check and sign a one‑year commitment, officials said. “This 1 to 1 attention from another caring and consistent adult in a student's life makes a difference,” Paul Paces said.

The presentation described program structure and results: Alta Elementary has 18 mentors in the building; districtwide there are 45 elementary students and 16 middle school students participating. Phil Daugherty, program director for the Kids Hope partnership, said the national program is faith‑based, implemented by churches, and that churches cover program membership costs. District staff described procedures that mentors follow, including district background checks, orientation, weekly session recaps that go to the teacher, principal and program director, and guidance to avoid school–church boundary issues.

Two mentors, Cheryl Swift and Clint Forrester, described long‑running relationships with mentees and how weekly meetings persisted through COVID by using pen‑pal exchanges and virtual check‑ins. Swift recounted that her mentee once told her, “you make me mad,” then explained that the student meant mentor days reliably improved his mood; she said that continuity and trust were central to the relationship. Forrester described supporting a student through the difficult transition into middle school and said mentors often report they get at least as much from the relationship as the students do.

Administrators shared survey results from participating students, teachers and parents that they said were overwhelmingly positive: in the presenter’s summary, most student respondents “strongly agreed” they wanted to continue meeting with their mentor and many reported increased belonging. Teachers said recap reports helped them better understand students’ needs. Presenters and board members thanked volunteer mentors and church partners and encouraged expansion; presenters said the district and churches are discussing possible growth into the high school based on local interest.

Program leaders and district staff emphasized that the program is for public schools and that the churches, not the district, pay Kids Hope USA membership fees. They also highlighted administrative work required to coordinate mentors, schedules and progress reporting. A board member requested the presentation be shared with other board members and thanked presenters for the detail.

The board did not take formal action on the presentation; the item was an informational report.