'Wildly Successful' Mentor Program Sets National Example

When Dolores Fischer co-founded a support program for freshmen in the mid-'90s, she never imagined it would be so popular, let alone gain a following outside of Stevenson High School.

A decade and a half later, schools across the country are seeking Fischer's assistance to create their own versions of the Freshman Mentor Program, which enlists upperclassmen to guide and support the school's youngest students.

Stevenson accepts applications from interested juniors and seniors, who are then evaluated by faculty members based on their character. This year, 200 of Stevenson's 300-plus applicants were selected.

The rigorous application process just the beginning. FMPs meet with designated groups of freshmen, along with faculty members and counselors, throughout the week to encourage involvement, provide assistance with school work and provide support and reassurance.

"It gives freshmen that confidence and helps then succeed in high school," Fischer said. "It's so amazing, the affects it has."

"It has just really changed the culture of the school. We respect our freshmen. We respect one another," she said.

The program, which Fischer co-founded with former health teacher Phil Raffaelli, was modeled off of a similar concept that was used at Highland Park High School in the '90s, when Stevenson adminstrators decided the school should work harded to build relationships with freshmen, Fischer said.

Though she retired from her job as a Stevenson math teacher in 2005, Fischer can't bring herself to give up the FMP program, which she continues to direct. In fact, her vision has attracted the attention of high schools nationwide, who hire Fischer to help them launch their own programs. In recent months, she has traveled to schools in Missouri, Wisconsin, Utah, and even Canada, to lend her expertise.

"When I started this program 18 years ago, never in my wildest dreams did I imagine it would be so widely successful," Fischer said.

Click here to read more about Stevenson High School's Freshman Mentor Program.