(Feb. 19, 2021) Last year threw everyone a curve, especially students and families who were required to transition to online learning. For one group of students who have been accepted into the Take Stock in Children program, this has also impacted their opportunity to meet with a mentor over their school lunch period.
Each spring, the Pinellas Education Foundation approves approximately 250 applications from students in Pinellas County Schools, grades 6-9. Once accepted into the program, scholars pledge to be drug and crime-free, meet with a college success coach regularly, maintain good grades and most importantly — meet with a mentor weekly. These meetings typically would occur on school campuses at lunchtime, but this year, all mentoring is done virtually.