Ms. Kara Kimball, an AP English 11, Honors English 11, and VTFT teacher, does many other things besides teaching. She also leads an organization focused on mentoring kids at Kempsville Elementary School.

“I didn’t plan on doing this until Ms. [Caroline] Myers said there was a need for students,” Kimball said. “I found some volunteers and talked to the guidance counselor and principal over there.”

Many people think this group is tutoring elementary students in academics, but, actually, they are mentoring kids who need some encouragement in their life.

“These kids that they are mentoring; it’s almost like a big-brother, big-sister-type relationship where they get to just hang out for thirty minutes at the end of the day, right before they get to go home,” Kimball continued. “They talk to them and make sure their behavior is on track.”

Lydia Marsh, junior, is one of the students who mentors with this program. “[I do] whatever the little girl wants to do. Most of the time we play games. She really likes Uno, and many times I’ll bring games from my home.”

“She tells me things, and I encourage her to do the right thing and keep her grades up,” Marsh continued.

“Many of these kids are fourth and fifth graders that are at-risk in some way,” said Kimball. “They just needed somebody to keep them on track.”