Community Involvement

Small Group Male-Mentoring Session Barger Academy & East Lake Elementary

GUIDANCE DEPT.

Cheryl A. McCray, School Counselor

A male-mentoring program was implemented at Barger Academy and East Lake Elementary this semester. The sessions were presented by Cheryl A. McCray, School Counselor, along with Mr. Allen Green. Mr. Green is a Chattanooga Firefighter at Station 9 in the East Lake community. Mr. Green is also the owner of a motivational empowerment program, PPCH (Pain, Perseverance, Character, and Hope).

Our sessions included young male students whose ages ranged from 7 to 11 years. Mrs. McCray supervised and was involved in the sessions. The sessions addressed the following areas: Bullying, the Prevalence of Gangs, Anger Management, Goals, and Educational expectations. The young men were very receptive and respectful to Mr. Green. Most participated in the dialogue, but all listened attentively. As a follow up, in speaking with each of them individually, they expressed interest and a desire to have Mr. Green to mentor them on a regular basis, and thus became the beginning of a great partnership. Mr. Green has mentored students numerous times at both schools and some of the young men have had improved attendance as well as improved social-emotional skills. These sessions have been most beneficial as these young men face so many challenges and it our desire to continue and to broaden this program to be an ongoing one for the betterment of the young men at our schools.

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The small group sessions are approved by Ms. Patricia Russell, Coordinator of School Counselors for HCDE, Mr. Greg Bagby, Principal of Barger Academy, and Mrs. Joyce Lancaster, principal of East Lake Elementary School. Mr. Green serves as a mentor for other HCDE schools in the area. For more information, on Mr. Green and PPCH, please visit the website, https://algreen31.wixsite.com/ppch/about-allen.

Submitted by: Cheryl A. McCray, School Counselor

Mentees at Barger Elementary