Virtual Mentoring: Harnessing the Power of Technology to develop a K-20 Leadership Collaborative

CAMP (Collegiate Achievement Mentoring Program) Osprey is a leadership-mentoring program where collegiate student leaders serve as mentors to at-risk K-12 students. To overcome geographic and financial barriers faced by our high-poverty, urban/rural partners throughout the state, we will be harnessing the use of "virtual leadership mentoring” and videoconferencing technology available on the UNF campus. This model is based on the previous initiative at the University of Florida, where mentors conducted virtual leadership mentoring sessions with students in North Carolina, Georgia and South Florida. Participants in the pilot program experienced increased standardized text scores, increased attendance and decreased school suspensions (Froman & Ohlson, 2011). This roundtable will share successes and challenges associated with program development, implementation and adaptation along with previous outcomes associated with collegiate mentor and K-12 mentee particpants.