Bringing Real-World Experience
Another District-wide initiative that relies heavily on
volunteer mentors is the International Baccalaureate Fourth-
Grade Exhibition. In this capstone project for the IB Primary
Years Program, small groups of students work collaboratively
to research and take action on a particular topic. Mentors
meet with the students for one hour a week, starting in the
spring, to help guide them in the process.
Joe Miller, a parent of four Shaker students and a former
journalist, has served as an IB Exhibition mentor at Lomond
School for the past three years. He also puts his journalism
training to use as an advisor on the school’s student
newsletter, The Lomond Wave. Miller likes that his time in
the classroom – “being in the trenches” – gives him a different
vantage point as a parent.
It also doesn’t hurt that the kids treat him like a rock
star when he shows up at school. “It’s great from an ego
perspective,” he admits. “I think they like having someone
new and different come in to work with them.”
The need for volunteers does not decrease as the
students grow older. If anything, mentors who bring realworld
experience into the classroom are more valuable than
ever. For instance, at a twice-yearly Middle School Design
Day, dozens of Shaker parents and community members who
work in the STEM fields come in to talk about their jobs and
engage students in hands-on activities related to what they
are learning in school.
Mity Fowler, who served as co-president of the Middle
School PTO and helped coordinate the event with parent
Gretchen Witt, observes, “At this age, students are just
Pamela Watts, a retired human resources
executive and Lomond resident, conducts mock
job interviews with Shaker Heights High School
students at the Innovative Center.
Joe Miller, a parent of four Shaker
students and a former journalist, enjoys
mentoring Lomond fourth-graders
through the International Baccalaureate
Exhibition process. Dozens of mentors
are needed at each elementary school
for this program every spring.
62 SHAKERONLINE.COM | SUMMER 2017
Photo by Angelo Merendino