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EDUCATION A wealth of experience Manor residents pass on their knowledge to help teens succeed Comment By Teresa Thomas Mail Tribune MailTribune.com By Teresa Thomas Mail Tribune Posted Jan. 26, 2015 at 12:01 AM By Teresa Thomas Mail Tribune Posted Jan. 26, 2015 at 12:01 AM » Social News Rogue Valley Manor resident Bob Abler has assembled an A-team of retired civil engineers, lawyers, accountants and other successful businessmen ready to share their wisdom and life experience with high school boys in need of a little inspiration and motivation. Abler, 86, and his wife, Mary Lou, began the Manor Mentor Program for Boys in 2012, pairing junior and senior boys at North, South and Central Medford high schools with men living at the Manor. The program targets boys with a 2.0 to 3.0 GPA who have potential even if they aren't demonstrating it in school, said Abler, who was a mentor with ASPIRE (Access to Student Assistance Programs in Reach of Everyone) for five years prior to starting this program and, before that, a consultant to Fortune 500 companies. “Since the day we started the program, I've never had to go out and notify our residents that we need more mentors,” he said. “They just come when they hear what I’m doing.” The high schools notify Abler when they have students who meet the qualifications and are willing to meet weekly with a mentor at the school. Because all the students he mentored through the ASPIRE program had nearly a 4.0 GPA, Abler wanted to tailor this program to serve students who might be struggling. He matches a student with a mentor who has similar interests and/or life experiences. The mentor doesn't provide homework help, but rather is available to help the student set achievable goals, deal with roadblocks, make good decisions, explore interests and take steps to get the experience or post-secondary education necessary to get the job he wants. “They also provide lots of praise and support when the students meet their goals,” Abler said. In the past three years, about 30 boys have signed up for the program, many of whom have continued meeting with their mentor for a second year. By June of this year, 20 of those boys will have graduated and either started at a university or community college or found a job in their area of interest. “We haven’t lost any yet,” Abler said. This year, the Ablers have about 24 mentors lined up but only about 14 high school students, including five from last year. “I look at these men and think … all their talent is going straight to the grave in not too many years, and here’s an opportunity for them to pass on how to go about life and be successful,” Abler said. Medford schools Superintendent Brian Shumate and all three high school principals met Wednesday with Abler to discuss how to grow the program and get more at-risk boys on board. Many of the boys in the program are living in single-parent homes, most with their moms and without a male role model, Abler said. Aaron Nash, 17, a junior at North Medford High School, said he signed up for the program in October because he’d had a lazy summer and wasn't feeling motivated at school. “I’d like to be a straight-A student, but there’s always something else to do,” Nash said. His academic counselor recommended the mentor program, and his mom encouraged him to do it. Because of Nash’s technical interests, Abler paired him with Merle Isaak, who retired in the '90s after more than 45 years as a civil engineer in the San Francisco Bay Area. Isaak and Nash meet every Wednesday for 30 minutes to an hour in the school’s College and Career Center. “We talk about his interests mostly,” Isaak said. “And I try to throw stuff at him that might perk his interests, like articles from the newspaper, magazine clippings and information about RCC (Rogue Community College) opportunities. “I get him to commit to things he is interested in and try to get him to think and focus on his goals,” Isaak said, adding that he’s also taught Nash about time management and how to make decisions using a pros-and-cons list. Nash said some of his friends might think it’s “lame” to spend time after school talking with a senior mentor, but he and his mom realize that a lot can be learned from “older people with more life experience.” Nash said he’s interested in a hands-on job, “building something that I know will be used, like cars, buildings or telescopes or satellites,” and would like to continue being mentored by Isaak until he has some direction in his life. “He’s shared his opinions and experiences and given me ideas to think about and possibilities,” Nash said. “He’s offered me motivation, which is something I had trouble finding on my own.” Reach education reporter Teresa Thomas at 541-776-4497 or [email protected] . Follow her at  www.twitter.com/teresathomas_mt . By Teresa Thomas Mail Tribune MailTribune.com By Teresa Thomas Mail Tribune Posted Jan. 26, 2015 at 12:01 AM » Comment or view comments Reader Reaction » STAY INFORMED Email NewsLetter Sign Up Today Sign up for our newsletter and have the top headlines from your community delivered right to your inbox. Southern Oregon Directory Featured Businesses Loading... 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