Travis County Commissioners Court
Tuesday, January 25, 2011,
Item 3
>> number 3, approve prom mission -- proclamation recognizing the month of January as mentoring month in Travis County.
should I read your comprehensive proclamation, mr. Nares?
>> yes, please.
thank you.
>> it reads: whereas the education of the children of Travis County, Texas, is one of the most important needs in the county because it will prepare them to be the future leaders, scientists, doctors, scholars and citizens.
it doesn't say so, but county judges of this county.
>> [laughter] this state and this nation.
whereas many of the elementary, middle school and high school students living in Travis County would been fit from the assistance of community volunteers working in their schools.
whereas the teachers and staff in their schools in the Austin independent school district, the Pflugerville independent school district, the del valle independent school district and the eanes independent school district welcome the assistance of community volunteers working in their schools.
whereas the existence of community volunteers working in schools has improved the attendance of the students, their performance and their studies and the general education atmosphere of the schools.
whereas community volunteers in schools can help students identify their individual academic goals, model effective study strategies for students, help students improve their organizational skills so that they can enhance their academic success, assist students with homework and test preparation, and encourage high levels of achievement.
whereas Austin partners in education and the seedling foundation have developed programs to assist in the placement of community volunteers in the elementary schools, middle schools and high schools located in Travis County.
whereas Travis County has an estimated 4,700 children who have an incarcerated parent and studies show children with an incarcerated parent are more likely to become involved in the juvenile justice system.
whereas these children are six to ten times more likely to end up in prison than the average young person.
whereas these mentoring, coaching programs support many levels of involvement and can be customize to do fit the needs of both the student and the community volunteer so that volunteers may work with individual students or small groups of students in a specialized subject area or with a certain age or grade level or even with a student with a similar career goal.
whereas training is available for community volunteers on effective study skills, learning styles and multiple types of information that provides valuable information and strategies that are useful when supporting the academic growth of the students, and whereas support is available for community volunteers as they work with the students in these programs so that volunteers can get assistance in addressing issues that may develop during their work with the students.
therefore, the Commissioners court of Travis County hereby expresses its support of these programs and encourages Travis County employees to volunteer to work with students in these community volunteer programs in support of these programs, the Commissioners court of Travis County instructures the supervisors of its employees to allow these county employees to use a flexible approach to their daily schedule so that they can participate in these volunteer programs as well as perform their county responsibilities.
the Commissioners court of Travis County encourages all elected and appoint officials of Travis County to support these programs and encourages the employees and each of their offices to work with students in these community volunteer programs, and a winded county judge moves approval.
>> second.
>> [laughter]
>> judge, Commissioners, thanks so much for declaring January as mentor month in Travis County.
you have done this now for ten consecutive years.
I’m very pleased to have with me the executive director katherine brewer of Austin partners in education.
sherry waxler, scoot it director for the seedling foundation and I think she has some of your information.
>> thanks for being here.
>> we could not have in this community the mentoring and coaching activities in our schools without the help of these outstanding organizations.
all of us are aware of the state cuts, all of these organizations depend upon funds that come from grants or could enlarge their activities with additional funds.
I would encourage all of our Travis County employees and the Travis County citizens to support both financially through the united way both these organizations are on our approved list.
both their websites have the opportunity for donations.
we obviously need additional volunteers and you can log on to their website, the Austin partners in education and the seedling foundation and fill out an application form.
there is a background check that's required.
I can tell you that if we take a small step, all of us, to complete an application, get through the process, even if you don't have time this semester to participate, you will be qualified and have your paperwork completed for the fall semester.
and we need additional volunteers.
Travis County has many volunteers and I want to thank all the volunteers, not only in the mentoring programs but through the rsvp program that we have I think over 2,000 people of the community volunteering.
we have hundreds of people mentoring and coaching, and I want to thank all of them.
I would start naming, but I would leave somebody out, and I won't do that.
but I do appreciate the support.
katherine, do you have a few words you might like to say?
>> always.
first of all, I wanted to thing mr. Nellis.
he has been such a stalwart supporter and in these economic times of having employees come out and volunteer.
we have hundreds of volunteers in our database from Travis County and actually due to your support have at least 800 mentors going into the classrooms this year and 850 classroom coaches who serve collectively thousands of students in the district.
we still have 50,000 low-income students who can use help through the services of big brothers, seedling foundation, many other very high functioning organizations.
we have the opportunity to provide a menu of opportunities for citizens to get involved in the schools.
during these economic times, it's very important for people to get involved not only to help students to reduce the teacher/student ratios when we are possibly losing teachers, but also to provide a community of support so that we have advocates who have experienced the schools and the struggles, to go out and communicate to our legislators and to the community as to the challenges and the need for support.
so I want to encourage everybody to get involved to understand exactly what's going on in the schools and come participate.
>> suri is executive director with the seedling foundation, and the seedling foundation mentors children that --
>> [one moment, please, for change in captioners]
>> thank you for issuing the proclamation and joining us in honoring our volunteers during national men torring month and for your support of all the programs that katherine mentioned.
I echo my operation to mr. Nellis who not only walks the walk but talks the talk in every possible venue.
she really the--he is really the men tor's men tor.
>> we appreciate all y'all do.
>> thank you for your service.
the volunteers have done an outstanding job throughout the community.
we couldn't make it without the volunteers.
folks need to realize.
there is a volunteer attached to all of this.
I’m going to give an applause, going to stand and give an applause to all of the volunteers, and you and your services, for the community.
thank you.
>> (applause)
>> thank you.
>> I just want to add, emphasize what leroy said, there is no time in recent history that we need these programs more than now with the budget cuts to education.
they are critical.
I encourage everyone out there who has a little bit of time to volunteer or contribute.
>> these are not someone else's children.
these are the community's children.
thank you so much for what you do.
>> all in favor.
that passes by unanimous vote.
don't assume we will support you just because you bring it in, mr. Nellis.
>> thank you, leroy.
thank you all for coming as wel.
>> thank you.
s.
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Last Modified:
Tuesday, January, 2011 2:19 PM
