Local Heroes Needed At Clinton County Schools

With the school year just around the corner, COACH Kids of Clinton County is in need of mentors for the 2025-2026 school year in the Local Heroes program.

The Local Heroes program matches adult and high school mentors with mentees who range from preschool through middle school ages. Mentors are able to choose the school where they would like to participate to best meet their schedule availability. Those without a preference will be matched where needs are present and mentees are currently waiting.

Mentors are expected to meet with their mentees for one day of the week during school hours for approximately 30 minutes. Adult mentors typically meet with their mentees during lunch or recess times, but other times can be accommodated based upon the teacher's availability to have the child removed from the classroom for the 30-minute period. High school mentors may need to meet outside of the lunch time frame due to different study hall or homeroom availabilities, which can be figured out through communication with the mentee's teacher.

During meetings, Local Heroes matches will play games, talk about life and enjoy each other's company to form a friendship that will last a lifetime. Mentors will be matched with the same mentee from their first meeting until they "age out" unless circumstances change and the mentor or mentee can no longer meet with one another, which allows for the matches to continue forming their bond for years to come. Every school will have games, coloring sheets, ice breakers and more for mentors and mentees to utilize to bond together and create lasting memories.

Local Heroes mentees come from all walks of life. Many mentees are referred to the program by their teachers, coaches, counselors and other staff at the schools while others are referred through outside agencies, such as therapeutic agencies, probation and more. Parents and guardians are also welcome to refer their children themselves if they believe that their child would benefit from a one-on-one mentoring opportunity with an adult or high school mentor. There are no specific requirements that need to be met to be a mentee in the Local Heroes program aside from being in preschool, elementary school or middle school in Clinton County at the time of enrollment. Local Heroes mentees will "age out" of the program as they enter high school, which will allow them to either become mentors themselves in the program or be mentees in a different program, Friends for Life, where they will receive resources and information to prepare them for life beyond high school.

To become a mentor, applicants should complete a short application that includes a background check. Once the background check is completed, the potential mentor must complete a short, virtual Child Safety Training that will be sent to their email. Following the completion of the training, mentors will undergo a short a interview to ensure that mentors are matched with a child that shares similar interests to have the best match possible. At the beginning of the school year, all mentors will be notified of their mentee's name, grade and school and provided their mentee's teacher's contact information in the instance that they may need to meet outside of the lunch or recess time frame. Once that information is received, they may begin meeting.

Numerous matches have gone beyond the school walls and have transitioned into the Community HOPE program where mentors and mentees can meet outside of school during hours that work for them. This opportunity has presented itself for those who wish to continue meeting with their mentee through COACH Kids after their mentee "ages out" of the Local Heroes program, those who wish to spend even more time with their mentee than 30 minutes to one hour a week and those who wish to spend time with their mentee during the summer months when school is not in session. For more information on the Community HOPE program, visit coachkids.org.

Every year, one Local Heroes mentor is honored at the COACH Kids Gala/Banquet as the "Local Heroes Mentor of the Year," and high school mentors are eligible to apply for the $500 COACH Kids scholarship that may be used toward their college or furthering education expenses.

COACH Kids is currently in need of mentors, both adult and high school, at Suncrest Elementary School, Green Meadows Intermediate School, Clinton Prairie Elementary School and Clinton Central Elementary School for the 2025-2026 school year.

Frankfort High School students are required to have a few more boxes checked off to become mentors, including a parent/guardian meeting and additional forms such as statements of understanding and liability forms, due to them leaving the school campus to participate in the program. A parent/guardian meeting will be scheduled in August or early September for potential mentors, and more information about what the meeting will cover can be found at https://www.coachkids.org/post/frankfort-high-school-local-heroes-summer-parent-guardian-meeting-set-for-july-9. Note: the July 9 meeting has passed and another meeting will be scheduled soon. Parents/guardians can also schedule a one-on-one meeting with COACH Kids staff at any time to complete the paperwork.