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Why I Mentor

Oklahomans in every corner of the state are volunteering time each week to make a difference in a child's life. The Oklahoma Foundation for Excellence has asked some of these mentors to share their experiences.

Charlotte Jones, with the K20 Center for Educational and Community Renewal, is an active community volunteer who retired in 2004 as principal of Norman’s Madison Elementary School. She serves on the boards of Big Brothers/Big Sisters of Cleveland County and the Norman Transition House.

Why is mentoring important to you?
Mentoring is important to me because I know how important mentors have been to me in my life. Mentoring offers the support of a caring one-to-one relationship that fosters a child’s healthy growth.

How or why did you become involved?
I became involved in 1994 when I became principal of Madison Elementary in Norman, Ok. I saw so many children who needed to develop a sense of caring, trust and a belief that “I can.” I went out to the community and asked for volunteers. I went to the University of Oklahoma student organizations. I went to the O.U. Women’s Basketball program, to OG&E, and to the University of Oklahoma Football Program looking for individuals willing to be mentors. Today Madison has an average of 60 to 100 mentors working with children. Big Brothers and Big Sisters has become a partner with the school and offers their services to all of the organizations supplying mentors.

How have you personally benefited from mentoring?
I am a mentor to a young man at Madison Elementary. He is changing my life every week that I meet with him. He tells me how important I am to him and to the school. I see him being more positive and hear good reports about his attitude and work. I feel very fortunate to be a small part of his life.

Give an example of an activity you have shared with your mentee.
The child I mentor likes math and I was a math teacher for 16 years. We share the joy of problem solving and discussing mathematical challenges. We also spend a lot of time just talking about school and life.