Thu, Dec 04 2008
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Published September 06, 2008 11:34 pm - School board to decide on hiring mayor, one other as mentors By Cathy Spaulding Phoenix Staff Writer
Muskogee Mayor John Tyler Hammons is one of two college students slated to serve as mentors at Muskogee High School through a federally funded drug abuse reduction program. The Muskogee Board of Education is to vote on Hammons’ mentor position Tuesday at its regular board meeting, MPS Superintendent Mike Garde said. The position is contingent on funding. The other student mentor has not been selected, though candidates are being interviewed, said MPS Assistant Superintendent for Instruction Derryl Venters. She said the mentorships are not the same as the district’s Power of an Hour mentoring program, in which community members volunteer to spend one hour a week helping an at-risk youth. She said the program has not kicked off for this year. In 2007, 65 Muskogee students were linked with volunteer mentors. Venters said a three-year federal grant, part of the Creative Learning Environment for Alcohol Reduction or C.L.E.A.R. program, will pay for two college students who will spend 10 hours per week working with MHS students. Garde said the mentors will be paid $10 per hour. Hammons said Friday the main focus of his job will be to “encourage students to stay away from drugs and alcohol and continue their education.” The 2008 MHS graduate said he did similar things when he was involved with the MHS Student Council and Roughers against Illegal Drugs. He said he is taking 12 hours of classes at Northeastern State University, where he is majoring in political science. Venters said the mentors will work year-round. “They will serve as role models, meeting with young people in small groups,” she said. “One of the major functions of the grant is developing drug-free coalitions on school campuses as well as with the community.” The grant also funds two full-time prevention specialists who will co-sponsor clubs at school and hold support programs.A vote on hiring of the two prevention specialists is slated for Tuesday’s schoolboard meeting. Madison Tomlinson, who was MHS 10th grade principal, is the district’s program administrator and also oversees the district’s character and drug prevention programs, Venters said. The grant is for three years with $321,000 funding programs this year, she said. MPS public relations director Melony Carey said the district is seeking mentors experienced in working with middle school and high school students, organizing events and doing some Web design. Venters said the district has had paid student mentors in the past whose jobs were funded through GEAR UP of 21st Century Grants. GEAR UP stands for Gaining Early Awareness and Readiness for Undergraduate Programs. 
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