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RFISD mentor program reports increased need: 57 students seeking mentors but only 31 active volunteers
Summary
Vida Gandhi reported the district’s mentor program has 57 student requests for mentors this year and 31 active mentors (down from 38). Staff described steps to digitize tracking, simplify parent permission and add mentor orientation and training.
Vida Gandhi, presenting the annual Rockport-Fulton ISD mentor program update on March 19, said demand for mentors has grown: 57 students are requesting mentors this year compared with 41 last year, while the district currently has 31 active mentors (down from 38).
Why it matters: Mentors provide regular adult support that staff and presenters said can improve student confidence and engagement; the gap between demand and supply indicates the district needs to expand volunteer recruitment.
Gandhi described recent program improvements: digital tracking spreadsheets for mentor pairings and visits, online mentor-application and student-referral forms, simplified parent-permission processes and a mentor welcome toolkit to orient volunteers who have not been on campus recently. The district plans a mentor orientation and training session in September and an end-of-year mentor celebration in May.
Gandhi said recruitment has largely relied on word of mouth and community outreach—church groups, book clubs and local organizations—and that the district is seeking partnerships with local businesses to encourage employee volunteers. "We introduced digital tracking spreadsheets that allow us to monitor mentor pairings and their visits," Gandhi said, noting the change improved administrators’ visibility into matches.
What’s next: The district will increase outreach and host the May mentor celebration; staff emphasized the program seeks more male mentors for students who lack a consistent male role model.
