Whether it’s dressed in a suit and tie, as Santa Claus right before the holidays or somewhere in between, the many male volunteers who visit the Harris County Department of Education (HCDE) Head Start campuses do it for the same reason – to make a difference. 

“It’s good for all of us to give back,” said Ronald Walker, a community volunteer and permanent fixture with SuperMENtors at Dogan Head Start. “It’s an opportunity for us to meet young minds and try to impact them. You’re doing something that needs to be done.” 

SuperMENtors officially kicked off this month following meet-and-greet days in September. The program began in 2002 as part of the Head Start Significant Male Initiative to bridge together male role models and volunteers in the classroom with students – in this case Harris County’s youngest learners across 12 Head Start campuses. 

Mentors commit to monthly visits at their respective campuses. Reading dates are the second Thursday of each month beginning in October through May, though each campus will work with its mentors, as needed, for scheduling reading dates. 

The year began with nearly 40 mentors. Even the soon-to-open Coolwood campus already has its SuperMENtor – HCDE Director of Construction Joe Carreon has already claimed the center.  

Among the SuperMENtors within HCDE are Superintendent James Colbert Jr. (Dogan), assistant superintendents Jonathan Parker (JD Walker), Dr. Jesus Amezcua (Compton) and Dr. CJ Rodgers (Channelview), and Board Trustee Dr. John McGee (Humble). Volunteers also come from a multitude of business and community partners, including Bank of Texas, Urban Enrichment Institute, Lakeshore Learning and Journey of Faith Church Humble.  

Others are simply volunteers looking to give back. That was the case with Walker. He went to the same YMCA facility as a Dogan teacher, who asked him to be her classroom’s SuperMENtor. 

“Every time you meet a new class, you’re always glad to see the happy faces,” he said. “The challenge is to get the introverts to be able to participate. The others you don’t have a problem with. They’re glad to see you and we’re always glad to see them.”

The male initiative is vital for the populations served. There’s a chance a SuperMENtor will be the first positive male role model some of these young students – especially boys – will be exposed to. 

“It is particularly important that young boys see and interact with males in the educational environment,” Head Start Senior Director Venetia Peacock said. “The exposure that all students get from having the men come to the classroom and read helps broaden their love of reading and their ideas about who reads. Not only does it facilitate an appreciation and ultimately love of reading, but it also builds self-esteem, and it broadens the student’s experiences with the world.” 

Added Shenekia Hines, Dogan campus manager: “It can open up their whole world. So now we see them imitate that positive male role model. They’re sitting in the chair trying to read. They’re lining up some of the toys pretending that’s the class and they’re reading to the students.” 

In addition to reading, mentors help distribute books to each class. The books – seven total from October through April – are available to each student to take home through support and funding from the Education Foundation of Harris County and community partners.  

Mentors have come dressed in costume – Amezcua has an annual tradition of dressing up as Santa Clause at Compton Head Start. Business Services staff members deliver gifts during the December visit. 

It’s connections like those that make SuperMENtors a huge success as it closes in on 20 years of service. Students as young as 3 years old know who their mentors are and can’t wait to see them each month. 

“There is something about how the entire classroom atmosphere changes when you see a SuperMENtor walk into his classroom,” Peacock said. “The energy increases to a whole new level, and they are so happy to see their mentor. That is an indicator of the importance of the male engagement in the classroom. I get excited right along with them being excited.” 

Said Head Start Community Partnerships Manager Armando Rodriguez: “Having men involved in the program shows our children that learning, caring, and being a role model are qualities everyone can embody. It’s a true partnership, and their dedication is what makes this program thrive.” 

Prospective SuperMENtor volunteers can fill out an application and submit it for consideration online. For more information on the program, please contact Armando Rodriguez, Head Start community partnerships manager, at 713-696-2179 or SuperMENtors@hcde-texas.org.