OEF partners with school, agency to provide service

An exciting new mentorship program was announced this week.

Margaret Hess announced the launching of the Bulldog PAWS mentorship program during this week’s Talk Local held at Midge & Millie’s.

Through a partnership between the Okmulgee Education Foundation, the Okmulgee Family County YMCA and Okmulgee Public Schools, this program will allow community members to get more involved in the improvement of our children’s education.

PAWS stands for Partners At Work in Schools and – as the acronym suggests – will work to pair 25 mentors with 25 students for this upcoming school year, with plans to grow the program in the future. Hess added that, depending on the number of volunteers, the max number of mentors for this year could be 50.

Hess further explained the program which will initially be for 1st, 2nd, and 3rd grade students. “You will go to the primary school, you will be paired with a young person … and what we’re wanting to do is reconnect with that student on a weekly basis throughout the school year,” she said.

Mentors will be committing to an hour per week, during which they may help with anything from reading proficiency and other academic goals, to a simple walk or board game.

Hess said that applicants will, of course, have to go through a series of checks before being paired with a mentee, including a background screening.

“Our mentors will undergo the same type of fingerprinting and background screening that any employee of Okmulgee Public Schools goes through,” Hess said. “If we’re going to be doing a program and working with our schools, we have to make sure that we’re doing it in the safest way possible.”

Those interested in this mentorship opportunity are encouraged to apply, or reach out to Margaret Hess for more information.