Dover’s Top III partners with Communities In Schools

Master Sgt. Jamie Beard, 436th Maintenance Group first sergeant, shows students from Milford High School a B-17 Flying Fortress May 21, 2015, at the Air Mobility Command Museum on Dover Air Force Base, Del. Beard is a mentor for the Communities In Schools program that helps students connect the importance of education and career opportunities. (U.S. Air Force photo/Airman 1st Class William Johnson)

Dover’s Top III partners with Communities In Schools

Kenny Nicholson, Milford High School 11th Grader, takes a selfie inside of a C-47A Skytrain May 21, 2015, during a tour of the Air Mobility Command Museum on Dover Air Force Base, Del. Nicholson is enrolled in the Communities In Schools program and meets with his mentor once a month at Dover AFB to observe how Airmen operate in their work places. (U.S. Air Force photo/Airman 1st Class William Johnson)

Dover’s Top III partners with Communities In Schools

Mentors from Dover’s Top III and Communities In Schools program pose for a photo with their mentees from Milford High School May 21, 2015, at the Air Mobility Command Museum on Dover Air Force Base, Del. CIS of Delaware currently provides direct support services to approximately 1,500 children and youth who are at risk of low academic performance and dropping out of school. (U.S. Air Force photo/Airman 1st Class William Johnson)

Dover’s Top III partners with Communities In Schools

Master Sgt. Marc Gonsalves, 9th Airlift Squadron assistant loadmaster superintendent, shows how a multi-function display works to his mentee, Kalaysia Reynolds, Milford High School 11th Grader, inside of a C-5M Super Galaxy simulator May 21, 2015, at Dover Air Force Base, Del. The simulator is the same simulator that C-5 pilots train on. (U.S. Air Force photo/Airman 1st Class William Johnson)

Dover’s Top III partners with Communities In Schools

Isis Potts, Milford High School 9th Grader, left, poses for a photo with her mentor Senior Master Sgt. Shannon Lee, 436th Force Support Squadron career assistance advisor, while holding their Communities In Schools program shirts May 21, 2015, at Eagle Lanes Bowling Alley on Dover Air Force Base, Del. CIS established their second PHASE, or Professionals Helping Adolescents Succeed in Education program, in the nation with Team Dover. (U.S. Air Force photo/Airman 1st Class William Johnson)

Dover's Top III partners with Communities In Schools

Published May 26, 2015
By Airman 1st Class William Johnson
436th Airlift Wing Public Affairs

DOVER AIR FORCE BASE, Del. -- With the school year winding down and coming to an end, Team Dover mentors hosted their final gathering with their mentees in the Communities In Schools (CIS) program.

Students from Milford High School, Delaware, were bussed to the Air Mobility Command Museum where they took a tour and then broke-off for personal time with their individual mentors for the last time of the school year May 21, 2015, at Dover AFB, Delaware.

CIS is a leading dropout prevention organization and is proven to decrease dropout rates and increase on-time graduation rates. Back in September 2014, Dover's Top III partnered with CIS and Milford High School to match students with senior NCOs to give students the opportunity to interact with leaders in a professional environment in a new CIS program.

Master Sgt. Nichelle Denny, 436th Communications Squadron chief of network operations, played a key role in establishing CIS's PHASE program, or Professionals Helping Adolescents Succeed in Education program. It is only the second in the nation.

"Some of the other CIS programs establish a big brother, big sister type of relationship," said Denny. "PHASE is unique and different because it establishes mentorships in a professional environment."

On the third Thursday of every month, students came to Dover AFB and were paired with their mentors where they were given one-on-one time at their mentor's squadron to see how Airmen operated in a real-world work environments. The experience allowed students to interact in a professional environment while becoming familiar with Air Force culture, allowing them to connect the importance of education to different career opportunities.

Kalaysia Reynolds, a 9th Grader at Milford High School, was paired with Master Sgt. Marc Gonsalves, 9th Airlift Squadron assistant loadmaster superintendent, at the beginning of the program and said she enjoyed talking with and seeing where Gonsalves worked. Reynolds saw how the 9th AS operates and had the opportunity to act as a pilot in the C-5M Super Galaxy simulator that 9th AS pilots actually train on.

"My favorite part of the program is just being with my mentor," said Reynolds. "I like talking about future plans with my career and education. I want to do the program again next year."

Louis Ervin, CIS state mentor coordinator, said the PHASE program is vital to the success of the students and he was grateful for the working relationship with Dover AFB and the Top III.

"The program has been working well and the kids are really enthused about working with their mentors," said Ervin. "Our survey after the first meeting was very positive and we are already planning for the next school year."

With the first year ending in a success and plans already in the works for next school year, Denny hopes to find more mentors by opening the mentor slots to all ranks, including spouses.

"We started this as a Top III initiative," said Denny. "However, we want to see it continue to grow as a Dover initiative and help more children succeed in their lives."