Snoqualmie Valley board proclaims January National Mentoring Month; volunteers describe impact

The Snoqualmie Valley School District Board of Directors on Jan. 9 issued a proclamation recognizing January 2025 as National Mentoring Month and heard from volunteer mentors about the program’s impact on students.

The proclamation highlighted national research cited by presenters — students who meet regularly with a mentor are less likely to skip school and more likely to enroll in college — and celebrated the district’s partnership with Youth Success Mentoring, a program of Empower Youth Network. President Melissa Johnson read the proclamation on behalf of the board.

Volunteer Petra Moore told the board she mentors two students at Twin Falls Middle School and described weekly gym sessions where she and a mentee build basketball skills and discuss academics and confidence. “It’s really the highlight of my week,” Moore said, describing how her mentee decided to try out for the school team after mentoring sessions. Board and staff speakers noted mentors operate across all 17 district schools and said the program currently serves about 158 students.

Elementary and secondary administrators used the board recognition to present gifts: the elementary principals presented a donation on the board’s behalf to Trail Youth Coffee; secondary staff presented a donation to the Snoqualmie Valley Schools Foundation, which the presenters said supports district classrooms.

Board members thanked mentors and staff, and leaders encouraged community members to volunteer: presenters emphasized mentoring typically requires about an hour a week and that students are referred by school staff with parental permission.

No board action was required; the proclamation and recognitions were ceremonial items on the agenda.