Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Mentoring topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Pearland ISD podcast spotlights RISE mentor program and urges volunteers for 30‑minute weekly commitment
Summary
On the district's Building Blocks podcast, Pearland ISD leaders and longtime volunteers described the RISE mentor program, said mentors typically commit about 30 minutes a week, and urged more community members to sign up through the district website.
Superintendent Mr. Berger, host of Pearland ISD's Building Blocks podcast, used a recent episode to spotlight the district's RISE mentor program and to urge community members to volunteer.
The episode foregrounded the program's basic ask and supports: volunteers meet one student for about 30 minutes each week, receive training and periodic roundtable support from program staff, and frequently stay with the same mentee for years. "I've been a mentor for 10 years," said Carrie Ojeski, a long-time RISE mentor, describing her experience staying connected with multiple students and their families. Tom Allen, lead pastor at Crosspoint Church and another 10-year mentor, said the program depends on simple consistency. "It's not rocket science. It's just being human with another human and and showing them that you actually care about them. That's it. Period," Allen said.
Why this matters: Pearland ISD is a large district, and program leaders said volunteers remain in short supply. On the podcast, the host stated, "We have 20,000 students, and we need 20,000 mentors," framing the appeal as a large-scale recruitment need. Program training, led by staff referred to on the show as Mandy (Mandy Benedix), includes initial preparation and ongoing roundtable conversations geared to different mentee age groups; guests described the training as a central part of volunteer retention and support.
Podcast guests described the mentor role as deliberately nontechnical: mentors are not expected to act as tutors or counselors. "Sometimes, the most important thing you can do is absolutely nothing. Just sit and listen," Allen said. Ojeski said the program emphasizes relationships and small activities'playing UNO, drawing a family map or attending a school event'and that the program's training clarifies "exactly what you can and can't do." The pair said mentors often form long-term bonds: both described being matched with students who later moved up through grade levels while the mentor stayed involved.
How to get involved: the podcast closed with a sign-up path. "All you have to do is go to our web page. RISE Mentor is there. Find the name Mandy Benedix. Give her an email. Give her a shout," Mr. Berger said, directing prospective volunteers to the district website for onboarding details.
The guests emphasized the modest time commitment and the program's support structure, saying training and staff guidance reduce volunteers' uncertainty. The podcast framed the program as a community partnership led by Pearland ISD staff with support from faith and civic groups.
The episode did not include any formal district policy changes, budget figures, or guarantees of placements for every volunteer. Specifics such as maximum mentor caseloads, exact training length, and staff job titles were not stated on the podcast and are listed below as not specified.
