Rebecca Saul was active in mentoring-tutoring throughout high-school and college as both mentor and mentee. She was thankful for those experiences and when she moved to Maryland few years ago, she wanted to carry that legacy forward.  Volunteering with AOK Mentoring & Tutoring allowed her to do just that.
One child she worked with was with a little boy who was a bit behind in reading. Initially, reading was not one of his preferred activities, and they would only spend a short portion of their time together working on this skill. As the weeks went by, he gradually grew more and more excited about the stories they were reading, and soon he was insisting that they spend the entire session reading each week.”
Rebecca learned that being a good mentor is 90% just showing up as a consistent, positive adult in the student's life. The other 10% is taking time to learn about the mentee and incorporating their interests in the weekly activities. “Keep in mind that kids are people, and they have bad days too. Sometimes, mentees will not be as engaged in the activities you plan for them. It can be easy to internalize this, but it is almost never a reflection of you. Allow your student to have an "off" day and don't let it shake your confidence! Just remember that being there for them is what is most important.”
Mentoring has helped the students that Rebecca mentored build not only academic and social skills, but also become more confident in themselves and their abilities. “Watching students gain confidence in areas where they had previously struggled is definitely the most rewarding part of being a mentor,” she noted.

​Written by Karol Olson, AOK Board Vice President 

Hello, there! 
​I am filled with pride and gratitude for the accomplishments AOK Mentoring & Tutoring achieved last school year. Your collective efforts made a lasting impact on the lives of many children and families, and I am excited to share some of the highlights from this past year. 

Service and Dedication

This year, our AOK volunteers contributed nearly 1,600 hours of service in Howard County, valued at an astonishing $53,000—an amount that surpasses our annual budget! This is a $13,000 increase in value from last year, a testament to the dedication and commitment of our volunteers. These contributions have reached students in 31% of Howard County public schools, where approximately 350 mentees benefited from the mentorship and guidance provided by AOK mentor/tutors.

Mentorship and Academic Support

AOK mentor/tutors focused on two key areas: academic support and traditional mentoring. 

• 54% of their activities were dedicated to enhancing academic and homework skills.
• The remaining 46% concentrated on nurturing social skills, problem-solving abilities, and self-confidence.

It costs AOK about $131 to provide a child with a mentor/tutor each school year, and every dollar spent is an investment in a brighter future for our students.

The impact of this support is clear. According to teacher surveys that were returned, 100% of mentees matched with a one-on-one mentor/tutor showed academic progress, with 80% demonstrating positive behavioral changes and improved peer relationships. Additionally, 90% of these students showed enhanced social skills, and every single one of them exhibited better self-image and confidence.

Positive Feedback from Our Community

Our volunteers’ impact is further reflected in their own experiences: 97% of AOK mentor/tutors reported feeling happy, happier, or more hopeful after their sessions with mentees. Meanwhile, student surveys that were returned revealed that 87% felt that these interactions helped them get along better with their classmates.

School liaisons working with AOK have also highlighted the benefits of our program, with 100% agreeing that AOK mentor/tutors were beneficial for the mentees’ self-confidence.

Moving Forward Together

We will continue building on these successes and work tirelelessly in pursuit of our vision that every Howard County student succeeds. Our work is far from over, but with the continued dedication of our volunteers and the support of our community, I am confident that we will reach even greater heights to serve All Our Kids.

Together, we are making a real difference in the lives of our students, and I couldn’t be more proud of what we’ve accomplished. Thank you for being part of this journey! 
​
Karol
Karol Olson, AOK Board Vice President