Overview & Mentor Commitment
- Read Ahead’s mission is to ignite a love of reading in young students through mentoring, improving their confidence as well as their odds for success in school and life. We build students’ social-emotional skills that are essential for success.
- Mentors commit to one hour each week or every other week (alternating with another mentor) and build a relationship with an individual student (aged 5–11) throughout the duration of the full school year (October–May; must commit for full year).
- Mentors receive training & resources to ensure they are fully supported & engaged.
- Mentor-student pairs often spend multiple years together if the mentor desires.
Key info for New York City College of Technology Mentors
- City Tech students, professors, and staff volunteer at nearby PS 287 (50 Navy St.; just 12 mins from 300 Jay St.)
- PS 287 is a high-needs public elementary school with long student waiting lists for Read Ahead. Students are in grades 2–5, ages 7–11.
- Sessions are offered on Mondays, Thursdays, & Fridays from 12:10-12:50
Mentor Testimonials
“My first year as a mentor was a very rewarding one because I saw how much my student benefited from our time together.”
“I loved reading with my student and really saw a huge improvement in her attitude towards reading each week and her reading ability.”
“It’s a great way to help the children progress and to show them that they have support. It can also show them that they too can be in a successful business if they stick to school.”
Want to learn more? Come to our mentor info & training sessions on Thurs. 9/29 at 1pm in Namm 321 (300 Jay St.)
Can’t come on 9/29 but want to sign up? Fill out the easy form at readahead.org/volunteer, and Read Ahead will be in touch with all needed info about training and next steps. Email volunteer@readahead.org with questions!
