by Andre Clayton
Reporter
Twinsburg -- Black freshmen and sophomores at Twinsburg High School do not have to face the challenges of high school alone, thanks to a mentoring program established earlier this year by the Board of Education.
The mentorship program asks high school juniors and seniors to help black male first-year and second-year students adjust to the culture and academics of the high school.
According to Assistant Superintendent Mike Lenzo, the program allows underclassmen to have in-house contacts to have their questions answered about high school.
"Where things are, teachers and how rules are enforced," are examples of concerns underclassmen could have about high school, said Roy Warren, ninth-grade assistant principal who is the program's organizer.
For three months, the five seniors and four juniors involved in the program have been meeting with 11 freshmen and 20 sophomores every Thursday for one hour to establish relationships, according to Warren.
The meetings have been in small work groups, Warren said, "because it is important for the underclassmen to feel comfortable."
Warren, who is black, said he started the program with just black males because he feels more confident he can relate to them better.
"It's just that simple," said Warren, who added that he would eventually like to expand the program to include other underclassmen, but he and other administrators say they want to concentrate on making sure the program is successful with black males first.
"I want the program to grow over time," Warren said.
Program requirements for upperclassmen to be a mentor in the program are a 2.7 cumulative GPA and having no suspensions from the high school, Warren said, noting most of the upperclassmen mentors are involved in extracurricular activities.
This year's underclassmen program participants vary in academic standing, Warren said.
Even though upperclassmen do not receive class credit for their participation, Warren said they do receive leadership skills to help them prepare for college.
In August there will be an orientation for black male freshman who want to participate in the program, Warren said.
E-mail: aclayton@recordpub.com
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