Debbie Jacketta received the YIC Mentor of the Year Award.
“Debbie has been a mentor with Granite District for over 15 years. She is an amazing advocate for YIC students. She is proactive, finding ways to help and guide a student long before they start to have problems. One of her greatest strengths is that she collaborates so well with foster parents, caseworkers, school staff, and everyone on the student’s team. In addition to her exceptional skills with mentors, she is also a mentor to all the other mentors in our district. She is the go-to person in our mentoring program when one of our mentors has need of direction and counsel. Whenever I interact with DCFS or JJYS caseworkers and I let them know that the mentor working with their student will be Debbie, they are so pleased. They know that a student in Debbie’s care will get top notch services and they student is in very capable hands. Debbie is the heart of our mentoring program, and she is so appreciated by all the mentors in our YIC program.”
Kori Prichard and Kay-Linn Oldroyd were nominated for the award and are great mentors to our students here at YESS. Below are what their peers had to say about them.
“I highly recommend Kori Pritchard for this award. Kori has a natural gift to build rapport with her students and parents. She believes in her students and shows them what they need to accomplish for them to succeed in school and life. She does this by meeting with her students, giving them encouragement, sharing treats with them, having her students earn treats, and checking on her students daily. Because of Kori’s caring heart, her students begin to see that they are capable, and they have a ‘can do’ attitude for whatever task is in front of them. Here is an example a staff member from Salt Lake County Youth Services shared with me about Kori. This transportation driver was told by a staff member at Youth Services of how much of a help Kori was with a student that was in Foster Care. This student was staying at a group home and attending Kori’s class. This staff member had explained how this student was having a hard time and very anxious all around. With the student’s consent, Kori called the group home and communicated with staff members of what the student was struggling with. Any time this student went to school the student spoke of how he was glad Kori was in class to help him with his schoolwork. When the student had to be picked up from the school, this student would ask Kori to walk out with him and help him locate the group home vehicle. He stated that he was anxious that he would get into the wrong car because the group home vehicle looked like a lot like other cars. Kori would take time out of her day to help walk this student outside the school parking lot and locate the correct vehicle so that he would not feel lost. The staff member stated that this small act helped this student feel less anxious and feel safe.
Additionally, Kori is meticulous about her notes and data on her students. You can ask her anytime and she will know the status of their grades, assignments and where they are supposed to be. She is a strong advocate for her students as well. Kori is always in the counselor’s offices, speaking with the administration personnel, as well as with parents advocating for anything her students’ need. Kori is not only seen as a mentor, but as a caring adult, a teacher, an advocate, and someone who is one your side. If I had a student in Kori’s school, I would want her to be their mentor. Please consider Kori Pritchard for this award.”
“K-Linn Oldroyd is a mentor in an unusual place. She works at Youth Services and at the Christmas Box. Her job is unique because most of her clients leave in a very short time. Sometimes she may work with a client for a day, two weeks, or a month. K-Linn can build rapport quickly with clients through her humor and caring. They have an instant connection and because K-Linn follows through on her promises; her clients know she is reliable and caring. Oft times you walk into a group home, and you will see K-Linn playing a game with a client, reading with them, working on schoolwork, or engaging with them so they can have a positive example of a caring adult. Additionally, the Salt Lake Youth Services recently congratulated K-Linn on reaching out to a school on behalf of a student to help that student salvage credits so she could graduate. The facility thanked her with an enthusiastic “You’re awesome!” K-Linn does her data and documenting daily as she speaks with clients, caseworkers, staff, and teachers. She is always interested in what is the best for her clients and she is constantly calling other mentors in schools so they will be ready for her client to return to that school without an interruption of school services. K-Linn does not have a chance to work with family members, but she does work with caseworkers, attends family team meetings when possible, and shares her clients needs, and concerns with them. Many times, you hear the clients say that K-Linn is the ‘mom’ on the floor because she has a listening ear, is caring and sincerely wants the best for her clients. I believe that K-Linn would be a fantastic choice for this award. ”
Darcie Peterson from Division Child & Family Services (DCFS) received the YIC Partner of the Year Award. DCFS works hard for to support children and families. Darcie participates as Chair of the YESS Community Council. We appreciate all that Darcie does.
Ann Jones received the YIC Support Person Of The Year Award. Ann works hard to train and support YIC Mentors in Granite School District as well as mentors across the state of Utah. Ann is also been asked to present training at National Mentoring workshops. Ann is an important part of our school and district.
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