Since September 1995, Fox Filmed Entertainment, a division of News Corporation, has been partnered with Susan Miller Dorsey High School in a unique workplace mentoring program that pairs Fox employees with junior and sophomore students until their graduation from Dorsey. The program is designed to expose the students to a real work environment giving them a broader range of employees through the one-on-one mentoring process, informational workshops on higher education, careers and personal development, job shadowing sessions, and summer internships.
The mentor program, known as the S.T.A.R. program (Success Through Achievement & Responsibility), stresses class attendance and academic achievement. The program's standards to maintain membership are a minimum G.P.A. of 2.0, 90% class attendance, no major student code of conduct violations, and 95% participation to all mentor program sessions. Grades and attendance are closely monitored. Students and their mentors are notified if a students is close to falling short of meeting the program requirements.The program's calendar has half it's sessions as one-on-one mentoring, with the other half being informational workshops. There are approximately 17 sessions during the school's fiscal year. The mentor/mentee pairs meet every other Thursday from 12:00PM to 2:00PM on Fox's lot. Transportation to and from the studio and lunch for all program members are provided through the program's budget. Another activity, in addition to the sessions, is a 1-month job shadowing program where the students are transported to the lot on Tuesdays to observe operations. Between 4:00PM and 6:00PM they experience their assigned department by rotating between staff members to ask questions regarding the department's function within the company's operations, job skills, and educational requirements for the various positions. They submit a written commentary at the end of the program on the information that they gathered. This past year the program also sponsored local college tours.
The company helps in interpersonal and job skills' development through providing part-time employment during the school year where our students earn school credits and pay, as well as, paid summer internships. These opportunities also assist in developing communication skills, networking techniques, and career selection. This summer, we have 18 students employed in various departments throughout the company. To the left is a group picture of some of the Mentees & Mentors on the last mentoring session of the school year, 5/4/00.
Deborah Bryant, who coordinates the program for Fox, states: "We are striving for self-empowerment by giving students information on skills, education, and careers along with nurturing mentoring relationships. The more interaction that our young people have in the workplace, the more accessible jobs and careers will be to them." Several students who were not interested in continuing their education have now expressed the desire to go to college due to their experiences and relationships within the program.
The final session, at the end of the school year, is an awards luncheon at Dorsey. Students receive trophies and plaques for not only the highest G.P.A. and class attendance, but also for "most improved" in those areas. Certificates of participation and appreciation are also given to all members, parents, and faculty that were a part of the program during the year. Highlights of the luncheon include the awarding of scholarships. Since inception, the program has awarded eight scholarships totaling $10,000. (Picture), from left to right is, Barbie Franqui (Mentor), Chris Melandri (Mentor), Paul Pitts (Mentee), Henry Royster (Mentor), Kenneth Jackson (Mentee), Dontee Cason (Mentee), at the Awards Luncheon held at Dorsey's library, 5/22.00.
The program's committee has a senior executive advisor, Simon Bax, Chief Financial Officer & Senior VP of Finance of Fox Filmed Entertainment, Deborah Bryant, Theresa Myerson, Henry Royster and Donna Richardson, Dorsey liaison and Dorsey's college career advisor. Everyone on the committee has a full-time job, so the program's planning and administration is strictly voluntary. Organization, preplanning and follow-up guarantees a successful and smoothly run program. Corporate support for an innovative program and the committee's unwavering focus on the purpose of the program, have created the unique foundation for the program's success.
How to become a S.T.A.R. Mentor:
A mentor application form, confidential background check, release form, and tuberculosis test (the studio lot hospital can administer your test) is required bu LAUSD.
If you do not want to become a mentor, you can also help us by participating in the following programs:
Job Shadowing (November)
Myth:
I don't have enough time to mentor a student.Fact:
By extending your lunch an additional hour every other week during the school year, you can make a positive impact in a student's life.Myth:
I'm not in management; a student couldn't possibly learn anything from me.Fact:
If you are a resposible person, then you have what it takes to be a mentor.Myth:
It has been a long time since I've been in highschool; I'm not sure If I have anything in common with a teenager.Fact:
As a mentor, you will have the opportunity to build a relationship that bridges any gap.
For more information, please contact:
Deborah Bryant
Fox S.T.A.R. Mentor Program
Angeles Building, Suite 315
10301 W. Pico Boulevard
Los Angeles, CA 90064
(310) 369-3556
(310) 369-8016 (facsimile)
Author: Donald Ishihara
Last Updated: Monday, February 05, 2001
