At Frenship ISD, Career and Technical Education (CTE) teachers are preparing students for a variety of bright futures through hands-on learning and meaningful real-world experiences. With 33 CTE programs of study offered across the district at both Frenship High School and Frenship Memorial High School, students are gaining the skills, knowledge, and confidence needed to succeed beyond graduation.
One of those impactful opportunities is the CTE Mentoring Program, a cooperative program between Frenship High School and Frenship elementary and middle schools. Now in its eleventh year, the Mentoring Program serves approximately 70 mentors each year, placing responsible, motivated, and caring high school students with younger students who may benefit from additional support and a positive role model. Beginning next year, the program will expand to Frenship Memorial High School, since the course is only available to juniors and seniors.
Stacy Barnett, the Family and Consumer Sciences teacher at Frenship High School, explained that the goal of the program is to support elementary and middle school students while helping the mentor students grow personally and professionally.
“The goal of the Mentor Program is to provide a positive role model and extra support for those elementary and middle school students who may be in need, for whatever reason,” said Barnett. “The goal is also to provide the mentor students with opportunities to make a difference in the lives of others and to grow many of the skills needed for future careers.”
Mentors work closely with their mentees in a variety of ways. They may assist with academics, read together, play games, share lunch, or simply spend time talking and building trust. These consistent interactions allow mentors to form meaningful relationships while providing encouragement and stability for younger students.
Each mentor is assigned at least two individual mentees, with many taking on additional students throughout the week. Mentors work one-on-one and in group settings, assisting teachers in classrooms, supporting students who need extra help, and lending a hand in areas such as the gym or cafeteria. Through these efforts, the mentor students positively impact hundreds of Frenship students each week.
The Mentoring Program is classified as a Practicum in Human Services course within the CTE program and is considered work-based learning. Mentor placements are equivalent to unpaid jobs, giving students authentic workplace experience in a professional educational setting.
Through the program, students develop essential employability skills that transfer to any career field. Mentors must demonstrate strong communication skills as they interact daily with students of all ages, teachers, counselors, and administrators. They also build responsibility, time management, organization, collaboration, problem-solving, and professionalism.
“Our mentor students come out of the program with highly developed soft skills and a greater understanding of what will be expected of them in the working world,” said Barnett.
For many students, the program plays a significant role in shaping future career goals. Emie Dawson, a current Mentor II student at Frenship High School, said her decision to join the program was inspired by her own experiences as a child.
“I saw the positive effects of mentors who helped when I was in elementary school and aspire to do that for others,” said Dawson.
After graduation, Dawson plans to attend Abilene Christian University and major in Child Psychology. She said her favorite part of the program is building relationships with her mentees.
“I love to see the joy on the kids’ faces when I go see them,” said Dawson. “I enjoy learning about their families and home lives as well.”
Throughout her time in the program, Dawson said she has learned valuable skills that will directly impact her future career.
“I have learned how to speak gently and kindly and I have developed patience,” said Dawson. “I have also learned how to correctly interact with all ages of children as well as teachers and adults.”
She added that the mentoring experience has been instrumental in preparing her for the future.
“The Mentor Program has greatly contributed to my future career as it has exposed me to a variety of situations that have taught me patience, analytical thinking, and communication skills,” said Dawson. “When considering my future career, the Mentor Program has been an extremely important part of my journey.”
The program’s long-term impact can also be seen in former mentors who have gone on to careers in education. Miranda Larson, a second-grade teacher at Westwind Elementary, participated in the Mentoring Program while she was a student at Frenship High School.
“I truly believe my time as a mentor played a major role in my decision to become a teacher,” said Larson. “It was incredibly inspiring to see the impact other teachers had on their students and to recognize the small, but meaningful impact I felt I made during the short time I spent with my mentees.”
Larson said the program helped her develop empathy and a deeper understanding of the challenges students may face, both at school and at home. She explained that the program strengthened her ability to build genuine relationships with students.
“The mentoring program opened my eyes to many things educators should be aware of when working with students,” said Larson. “This experience made me more empathetic toward students, which has strengthened my ability to build genuine relationships with them.”
Through the CTE Mentoring Program, Frenship ISD continues to provide students with meaningful, hands-on learning experiences that prepare them for both careers and life beyond high school. By serving others, developing professional skills, and gaining real-world experience, the mentor students are building a strong foundation for their future while making a lasting impact across the district.