Volunteer Spotlight: Meet Our Amazing Mentors at Burns

At Burns Science and Technology Charter School, we’re proud to shine a spotlight on a few of the incredible volunteers who are making a difference every week through our Mentor Program. This year, we’ve had the honor of working with community members who have given their time, energy, and hearts to support our students in meaningful ways.

John Biddle, Lana Matthews, Megan Collins, Dana Greatrex, and Tamee Kreek are just a few of the dedicated individuals who have stepped into mentoring roles and made a lasting impact. From offering encouragement and advice to helping students set personal and academic goals, their time with students has been invaluable. Whether it’s lending a listening ear or simply showing up with a smile, our mentors help students feel seen, heard, and supported.

The Mentor Program is a powerful opportunity for students to build a relationship with a caring adult outside of their immediate family and classroom. Each mentor commits to spending just 30 minutes per visit on campus, but the benefits of that time are long-lasting. The sessions are flexible and designed to meet each student’s individual needs. Some students meet with their mentors to talk through challenges, while others gain insights and inspiration from someone working in a career they aspire to pursue.

Mentoring has been shown to boost self-esteem, improve school attitudes, and even increase future college enrollment. It’s a simple but impactful way to pour into the lives of our students, and we’re just getting started.

Looking Ahead: Volunteer Hours and Next Year’s Policy

As we prepare for the next school year, our updated volunteer policy will include a renewed focus on parent and community involvement, with each family expected to contribute a set number of volunteer hours. Mentoring is a wonderful and rewarding way to fulfill those hours, and even more importantly, it’s a chance to connect personally with the Burns community and make a difference in a student’s life.

Interested in Becoming a Mentor?

We’d love to welcome more volunteers to our mentor team. If you’re interested, visit our website for more information or contact Ms. Desimini at DesiminiC@burnsscitech.org. If you’d like your child to be matched with a mentor, please complete the Mentor Program Parent Permission Form (available in the front office or by contacting Ms. Desimini) and return it to the front office. We’ll handle the rest, and we'll notify you once a mentor match has been made.

We're grateful to the individuals who are helping us grow this program, and we’re excited to see even more connections blossom next year. Let’s keep building something special together.