Public school districts are not always known for thinking outside the box. Lesson plans are made to meet state standards and benchmarks and text books are purchased because they align with the standards.
However, since 2009, Española School District has introduced a program which pushes students by way of individual learning and mentorship.
Felicia Maestas, the current technology curriculum coordinator for the District, has been helping with the mentorship program since she first came to the District in 2010. Maestas said the program was originally designed for middle school and high school students in the gifted and talented education program.
“It was an extra enrichment opportunity for that group,” she said.
Since 2011, Maestas said this mentorship program has been opened up to include all interested and self-motivated students — and self-motivation is key. The program lasts one year, but students may reapply to be part of the program up until they graduate. The first step in the mentorship process, Maestas said, is having the student identify a passion. Once the passion is identified, the leaders of the program pair the student with a professional mentor. For this past year, program leaders included Maestas, Jennifer Ortiz, the gifted and talented coordinator; and Española Middle School art teacher Kathy Mouen. The student signs a one-year contract which specifies each student must meet with his mentor for two hours a week — even through the summer — and at the end of the year, prepare a presentation outlining what they learned.
“All of this is done outside of the student’s school time,” Maestas said.
She said the students’ program is guided by the essential questions. For the 10 students who participated in last year’s mentorship, which came to a close this month, their essential question was, “What do I really want to learn about this?” Each student will have a variant essential question, tapping into the specificities of their mentorship.
Ortiz said the program can be a stepping stone for many students, but is really designed as a way “to get learning out of the classroom.” She said often there is no relevance or connection to what kids are taught in the classroom and straight from textbooks, to real-life opportunities.
“The students learn the information in the classroom just to regurgitate it for a test,” Ortiz said. “There is no purpose.”
She said this is unfortunate because during adolescence, children are desperately looking for a purpose.
“They feel so strongly and passionately about everything and then they sit in the classroom and don’t see how they can put anything to use,” Ortiz said. “We’re losing them.”
This program taps into this passion by allowing the student to direct their learning.
“They’re getting a chance to see what their passion will look like in real-life situations,” Ortiz said.
Zack Vigil, sophomore at Española Valley High School, was one of the student participants in the mentorship program. Last year, he worked with mentor and artist Thomas Vigil. Zack Vigil said he signed up for the mentorship program because he wanted to get better at art — his chosen passion.
“I’ve been interested in art ever since I was a little kid, like five-years-old,” Zack Vigil said.
He mostly draws, but during the mentorship program, was introduced to a variety of other art forms such as woodworking, tin work, retablos and painting.
“Art takes a lot of time,” Zack Vigil said.
However much time it takes, though, Zack Vigil said he was glad for the learning experience, though he thinks he will only pursue art as a hobby.
“I’d recommend the program. It’s a good learning experience and gives you a different perspective on your interest,” he said.
At the culmination ceremony for the 10 mentorees, Ortiz said many students and parents showed interest in this year’s program. Because the entire program is a volunteer basis, it will take her some time to get mentors and mentorees lined up for the next year-long mentorship program. Ortiz said the program will continue.