Emerson's Unique Mentor Program

Emerson's Mentoring Program has partnered with ACCORD for Youth AmeriCorps, the Jewish Coalition for Literacy, and Caltrans District 4 Office to help recruit and train mentors to volunteer at Emerson. There are almost 200 volunteers and mentors that work with 150 Emerson students at least once a week. These mentors provide academic and social support to the students.

Approximately 150 of the mentors attend UC Berkeley. Emerson's test scores are among the highest in the district, this is due to Emerson's strong teaching staff, principal and also to this phenomenal mentoring program. The program was originally funded under a state grant through the Governor's Office of the Secretary for Education Academic Volunteer and Mentor Service Program from 1999-2002 until state funds were cut. The program is now supported solely on grants from local foundations and organizations. The Mentoring Program Director, Monica Santos puts an tremendous amount of extra time and effort into making this a unique, important and impressive program.

Emerson's Mentoring program is the only one of it's kind in the Berkeley School District that is school-based and serves such a large portion of its student population. Now in its fifth year, Emerson's Mentoring Program is seen as a model for others in the area and in the State of California. In October 2002, one of the program's mentors received the Governor's Award for Excellence in Academic Volunteer and Mentor Service. The Emerson student who worked with her was also recognized at a special award ceremony in Sacramento. Back to Top