Indy Standard

Indianapolis Public Schools (IPS) has begun a new mentorship program in partnership with Big Brothers Big Sisters of Central Indiana (BBBSCI). The initiative aims to connect students at James Russell Lowell School 51 with adult mentors.

“For this initial pilot year, Big Brothers Big Sisters is seeking to recruit 30 mentors to provide one-on-one mentorship for 30 IPS students,” said Shon D. Harris, senior manager of Strategic Partnerships at IPS. “This is about more than mentorship. It’s about creating lasting relationships that help students feel supported inside and outside the classroom.”

The first year of the program will focus on second through fourth graders at School 51, aligning with IPS’s efforts to improve literacy and support student success on IREAD-3 assessments.

Principal Christine Rembert said she looks forward to using the program as an opportunity to help students who face challenges in reading. She also noted that IPS and BBBSCI plan to gather baseline data during this school year to evaluate the long-term effects of the mentorship initiative.

To attract volunteers, BBBSCI is placing yard signs at IPS schools as part of its fall recruitment campaign. The organization is also working with local businesses and community groups, as well as engaging directly with families and staff at School 51, in order to find suitable mentors.

Harris explained that this effort supports IPS’s broader strategy for family and community engagement by building capacity among parents and partners to further student achievement.

If successful, there are plans for the program to expand into other IPS schools in future years, which could deepen the ongoing collaboration between IPS and BBBSCI, according to Harris.