Once an IEP is developed for a student with help from their teacher, a mentoring schedule is set up. But with that much mentoring required on a weekly basis, finding mentors who can meet the schedule is difficult. Instead of assigning one mentor to one child, a child may work with numerous mentors. It is the learning plan that is most important here, according to Gibbons. Each student may have several mentors, and as long as the mentor is carrying out the plan the teacher has developed, it doesn't matter that it's not the same person each week.
Any mentor can follow the structure and provide the necessary dynamic interpersonal relationship.
So, far, the Dallas-based company has served more than 1,000 students nationwide. And although the program is currently available only for reading, math and Spanish, Gibbons said they will be adding science and social studies soon. Putting a mentor with a student without having an idea of what you're going to do or whether or not it relates to the student's needs is a waste of time. Caring isn't enough by itself. When you combine caring with a plan that's developmentally appropriate, then you have something.