April 26, 2008

She Takes the Time
Ann Kelly Wins KABA's First Mentor of Year Award

By Deneen Smith
Kenosha News

Once a week Ann Kelly leaves her job on the factory line at the Kenosha Engine Plant and spends an hour living out her dream of working with children.

Kelly, a mentor at Durkee Elementary School through the Kenosha Area Business Alliance mentor program, spends that hour playing games or working on homework, shooting baskets on the playground or just chatting about the events of the day.

She has kept her appointment each week for the past 11 years — for the past six years at Durkee — mentoring so many children she can no longer remember how many kids she has cared for.

KABA named her mentor of the year recently, the first time the organization has given the award.

“It means a lot to me,” Kelly said of the award. “I was touched by it. But I don't think I deserve it, I think it is the school that deserves it, and the company for letting me go.”

KABA launched the mentor program 11 years ago,aimed at linking adults from local businesses with children who were in need of a little extra attention at Kenosha County schools. Mentors were asked to make a three-year commitment, the mentor hopefully staying with the same child from third grade through fifth grade.

Teachers and school counselors suggest children who might benefit from the program, kids who need a little help with academics or who would just enjoy a little one-on-one time with a caring grownup.

Kelly said she joined the program after leaders at the Kenosha Engine Plant reached out to workers, encouraging them to mentor and allowing them to leave the plant on paid time each week.

(PIctured left) Ann Kelly greets Myaieschia Taylor during a recent mentor visit at Durkee Elementary School. Kenosha News Photo by Bill Siel.

“I had always wanted to open a day care, I liked working with kids,” Kelly said. And because her own children were reaching high school and college age, she thought the program would let her spend a little time living out her dream of working with young children.

Because many of the children she mentored moved away from the district or school, Kelly has been matched with more than a dozen children during her years as a mentor. “Some of them I have had for just a few months, I think the longest I had one was for two years,” Kelly said.

Debbie Malsack, coordinator of the mentor program at Durkee Elementary School, said her school has about 20 mentors. Kelly, she said, is among the most dedicated. “She is wonderful,” Malsack said.

Malsack said Kelly has a gift for making the children she meets with feel special, showing up consistently and often bringing small gifts like candy or pencils that her child can share with the class. She has also gotten her family involved with the program, Kelly's husband comes to the school to do magic shows and her teenage and college-aged daughters chat with the kids or play sports.

Kelly said she always gives the children she mentors a little diary so they can keep track of things that happen during the week. “They can show me what they write about if they want, or they can keep it to themselves,” Kelly said. “It helps them remember what they have been doing, and it helps them with their writing, too.”

Although she sometimes wonders if she is making a difference in the children's lives, Kelly said she had an encoun ter last year that made her realize she did make an impact.

Years ago, Kelly said, she mentored a young Spanishspeaking boy who asked her to help him improve his English. She set up a game using the school's stairway and a paper crown she picked up from a local fast food restaurant. When the boy got a word right he moved up a stair. When he missed a word he moved down a stair. “When we got to the top of the stairs we would celebrate and shout King of the Hill!”

In a speech at the KABA annual meeting earlier this month, Kelly said she was at a high school football game last year when she was approached by young man who greeted her by name and told her proudly that he was going to be attending the University of Wisconsin-Madison in the fall.

Kelly said she did not recognize the boy.

“I said ‘good for you.' He looked at me and said you don't remember me do you. I didn't want to disappoint this young man so I replied of course I do, who can forget a good-looking young man like you?' but deep in my mind I had no clue,” she said.

The boy saw she needed a reminder. “King of the Hill,” he said, and gave her a hug.

(Pictured above) Ann Kelly applauds Myaieschia Taylor after she made a basket during a recent mentor visit at Durkee Elementary School. Kenosha News Photo by Bill Siel.

Kelly plans to stick with the mentor program, hoping to stay with it even after she retires. She also hopes more companies in the county will support the program and allow their employees to spend an hour a week volunteering.

She said she was dismayed to learn there are children throughout the school system on waiting lists for mentors, with too few adults volunteering to fill the need.

“There should be no child on a waiting list,” Kelly said.

To learn more about the KABA Mentor Program, click here.