Henderson County Public Schools and the Henderson County Education Foundation formally launched the Pathfinders Mentoring Program in August of 2024. The mission of the program is to support students in grades 7-12 in their post-secondary pursuits.
The program kicked off this school year with all 9th graders at East Henderson High School and all 7th graders at Flat Rock Middle School. Pathfinders mentors are paired with students and meet individually with them for 15 minutes at a time, every other month. At these meetings mentors spend time getting to know the students and talking with them about their grades, attendance and future career and educational plans. The ultimate goal is for mentors to encourage students to stay in school until they graduate and to help ensure that each student has a plan for post-graduation. Two rounds of mentor meetings have been completed at East Henderson High School, while the first round of meetings originally planned for October at Flat Rock Middle School had to be postponed due to Hurricane Helene. Mentors will meet with the middle school students for the first time in December.
Fifty-four adult community mentors were recruited for the 2024-25 school year. The plan for the 2025-26 school year is to expand to provide mentors for all 7th and 8th grade students at Flat Rock Middle School and all 9th and 10th grade students at East Henderson High School. Additional mentors will be added, as needed. While the program initially began in Flat Rock Middle School and East Henderson High School, the goal is to see it expand to all ten middle and high schools.
The Pathfinders Mentoring Program collaborates closely with Henderson County Public Schools, which conducts background checks for all mentors. Mentors are required to undergo a yearly mentor training in August that outlines the goals, requirements and expectations of the program. Maggie Gilliam, the Program Director, also provides mentors with periodic updates and detailed monthly interview questions, students progress reports, and pertinent school information so that they are adequately prepared for their monthly mentor meetings. The program operates in classroom spaces at East Henderson High School and Flat Rock Middle School, coordinating closely with each school’s principal and staff.
The program was jump-started with a $50,000 donation from the County Commissioners and a $27,000 grant from the Community Foundation of Henderson County. Pathfinders also has a leveled sponsorship program through which various individuals and local businesses have generously donated and supported the program. A ribbon cutting ceremony was held on September 25th at East Henderson High School, recognizing the sponsors and allowing members of the community to tour the classroom mentoring space. Board Chair Rebecca McCall challenges other municipalities and businesses within the county to provide monetary support to the program.
At a recent school board meeting, Pathfinders Mentor, Carol Cannon, reflected on her first two rounds of mentor meetings at East Henderson High School, “It’s a delight to get to know these young people and to have the opportunity to help them navigate through the challenges of high school. It only takes half a morning a month, based on my schedule. It is time well-spent.”
To learn more about the program, to make a donation, or sign up to be a mentor, visit the Henderson County Education Foundation website at www.hcefnc.org
