Mentoring Students in Science

Very Useful Guides to Mentoring
Existing Mentoring Activities in the Santa Fe Area

Almost all of us remember with special note those people who "made a difference" in our educational upbringing. A special teacher, a concerned counsellor, a buddy, a loving parent -- those people who explained difficult material, who revealed the beauty and value of learning, provided a role model, or simply stuck with us in tough times. Mentors can, and often do, enrich the lives of young people. Sometimes they even turn lives around.

The Alliance is looking for scientifically-literate people who are interested in mentoring students in Santa Fe about science. As a mentor you can:

• Give a guest lecture to a class,


• Meet one-on-one with students, or one-with-a-few, usually on a regular basis but sometimes only once (under the auspices of a school),


• Work in a classroom in a teaching role (under the auspices of the course instructor),


• Work with students in a course laboratory (under the auspices of the course instructor),


• Work with students on other kinds of discovery-based learning (under the auspices of the course instructor),


• Work with students on a science fair or term project,


• Advise students about college and/or career choices,


• Take students on a field trip,


• Other possibilities ...

There is lots of opportunity. Join the Alliance and we will match you up with a student and a school.

The Sandia Science Advisors (SCIAD) Project (1989-1997) produced a great deal of extremely valuable experiental learning about "best practices" and a wealth of excellent written guidance. Click the links below to download.

• Sandia Scientists Enhancing K-12 Education: How We've Done It and What We've Learned (1.4 MB)


• Preparing and Presenting Effective K-12 Science & Math Education Activities (2.4 MB)


• Science Education in our Elementary and Secondary Schools: A Guide for Technical Professionals Who Want to Help
  1. Introduction: How To Use This Guide (0.75 MB)
  2. Science Education: Things You Need to Know Before Getting Involved (4.9 MB)
  3. Working Effectively With Students (5.1 MB)
  4. Working Effectively With Teachers (2.6 MB)
  5. Conducting a Tour of Your Worksite (1.1 MB)
  6. Sources of Hands-On K-12 Science & Math Activity Ideas (3.3 MB)

Please note that by policy of the Santa Fe Public Schools, some mentoring and teaching arrangements involving non-state-certified personnel require a background check and an important interview/training session for the mentor. These activities are important but not very time-consuming.

• Big Sky Learning (Tutoring and enrichment in math and science)
• Literacy Volunteers of Santa Fe
• Mad Scientists' Clubhouse (After-school science activities for youngsters)
• Mentoring New Mexico (An across-the-board mentoring program)
• Monte del Sol Charter School Mentoring Program
• Multiple Minds, LLC
• Salazar Partnership (An elementary school literacy program; 986.5053)
• Santa Fe Community College Tutoring Center (428-1834)
• Santa Fe Science Initiative
• Science Education Solutions (Los Alamos)