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<\/figure>\n\n\n\nThe school had experienced a lack of follow-through from others in the past. It took time to gain trust and demonstrate\u00a0that they were dependable partners. After getting Bel-Aire on board, Claybrook and his wife, Joy, met with the school board for final approval.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Obtaining approval was one of many hurdles to getting the program off the ground. King\u2019s Cross also needed to create a working schedule with the teachers, who were concerned about losing valuable instruction time. They remedied this by giving mentors 30 minutes for lunch with students and another half hour before or after. Students were thrilled to share a meal with their mentors and get a short break from class to play games and work on social and interpersonal skills. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Pairing students with the right mentors was an intentional process. Jones worked with the school\u2019s guidance counselor, Amber Miller, to place mentors with students based on strengths, common interests, and personalities. Miller was essential to this process as she was familiar with the students and\u00a0their individual needs. After much deliberation,\u00a0the children were assigned mentors who have since become trusted advisors and friends. Jones continues to work carefully to make sure the program has a positive impact on the staff, the mentors, and the students. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cI owe a huge thanks to Christine for taking this on. She\u2019s done a phenomenal job, and it\u2019s been a pleasure to work with her \u2026 I look forward to continuing the program next year,\u201d Miller stated. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Jones is quick to admit that while mentoring is a joy, it can also be hard. The school started with five students and five mentors but ended with just three. Two students left for different reasons. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThey were both hard situations and just heartbreaking,\u201d Jones said.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n The students who stayed in the program for the full year, however, absolutely soared. <\/p>\n\n\n\n At the end of the school year, Jones asked her student, \u201cWhat was your favorite thing from this school year?\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n The student grinned and replied, \u201cWell \u2026 it starts with a \u2018C\u2019!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201c\u2018C\u2019 for Christine,\u201d Jones clarified emotionally.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The principal, teachers, and guidance counselor all note a positive shift in the participating students. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Miller said, \u201cThis program is like a beacon of light for our students \u2026 The smiles on their faces when their mentors come to spend time with them says it all.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Jones hopes other churches in Tullahoma will partner with Kids Hope USA to benefit more children in Tullahoma. She recommended churches contact Kids Hope directly to ensure they agree with the guidelines of the program before contacting schools. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Jones believes it is a fantastic program for everyone involved, and Miller agreed, \u201cI dare say, I think the mentors get as much out of it as the students do!\u201d GN <\/strong><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" When Christine Jones pops her head into the class at Bel-Aire Elementary School, one child\u2019s smile lights up the room. He runs to her, bursting to tell her about his week as they head to the cafeteria for lunch. The pair sits at the tablecloth-covered \u201cspecial table,\u201d set aside for visiting parents, grandparents, and, in […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":12,"featured_media":23694,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_et_pb_use_builder":"off","_et_pb_old_content":"","_et_gb_content_width":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[5],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-23692","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-stories"],"yoast_head":"\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/goodnewsmags.com\/tullahoma\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/8\/2025\/01\/3-2-1024x683.png\")
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