Near Peer Mentors (NPMs)

Integrating resources and insights of families, educators and mentors is key to creating an academic environment where students thrive, have the tools and skills to succeed, and aspire to higher education and careers. To take action on that vision, the Near Peer Mentor Program places teams of college-attending mentors, young pre-professionals recruited from the local community, with partner teachers to provide mentoring services in the classroom.  

THE NEAR PEER MENTOR PROGRAM OPERATES IN ALL 9 COMPREHENSIVE HIGH SCHOOLS.


What do NPMs do in the classroom?  NPMs collaborate with teacher partners to enrich the classroom environment and engage students by sharing their own voice and lived experience, model behaviors and attitudes conducive to academic success, provide college and career exposure activities, and help students develop a strong, positive college- and career-identity.

How are NPMs and their teacher partners supported? GEAR UP, in partnership with College & Career Readiness, provides wrap-around support for NPMs with a team of School College Coordinators, AmeriCorp members and TOSAs. NPMs receive close supervision, quality coaching and professional development retreats throughout their term of service.

NPMS IN THE CLASSROOM MAKE A DIFFERENCE! 

****86% of 2021-2022 NPMs are local BIPOC college students.****

Attendance data (ADA) show that multi-racial students in NPM-supported classrooms with GEAR UP-supported teacher partners attended 18 more days of school during the 2018-2019 school year than those not in NPM-supported classrooms.  The difference is statistically significant.

 "I've noticed students of color for sure [attend more], and I feel that's mainly attributed to the fact that most of our CAMs are CAMs of color.  So there's that, 'Oh shoot, you look like me. You've probably gone through similar experiences as me.' There's a way that preestablishes connection already and you just build off that."  ---First-Generation, Male CAM of Color