The Department of Prevention and Intervention will receive an “Influencing Systems – Education” mentoring award and be recognized in New York on April 28. Fresno Unified was one of five recipients nationwide and the only school district to win a National Amplify Award, given by MENTOR. The district was selected because of its early and ongoing dedication to systemically scaling relationship-based supports across the district.
Fresno Unified serves more than 4,000 kindergarten through 12th grade students annually through one-on-one, group, virtual, and peer mentoring programs. The district also collaborates with community partners to bring students dynamic mentoring experiences. Even during the pandemic, high school juniors and seniors virtually mentored middle school students, connecting more than 750 times a year and completing nearly 500 activities together.
“Our staff has done a tremendous job of expanding mentoring from serving 256 students 13 years ago to now supporting more than 4,000 students, with different forms of mentoring available to best meet the individual needs of students,” said Superintendent Bob Nelson.
MENTOR has announced winners in five categories to honor individuals, organizations, school districts, and corporations from across the nation that exemplify the diversity, breadth, and depth of today’s mentoring movement.
“MENTOR has always been centered on both influencing and serving the innovators and changemakers who put relationships with young people at the center of their impact,” said MENTOR Chief Executive Officer David Shapiro.