Learn more about the

Global Studies Academy

www.fortbendisd.com/globalstudies

WHAT IS CAPSTONE?
Fort Bend ISD High School Academies provide
specialized learning communities with concentrated
and robust course pathways comprised of career and
academic classes. These specialized academies exist at
the high school level to provide focused study and
services, launching students toward careers and college
pathways in a number of highly skilled and competitive
areas. The Global Studies Academy is one such
academy. Our program equips students to effectively
solve the challenges society will face in the future while
developing as multi-faceted global citizens. Students are
empowered to become innovative global thinkers who
celebrate diversity. The Academy also fosters leadership
by exposing its members to a variety of situations from
a globally integrated perspective while offering

opportunities in student government, community

service and cultural awareness activities.
The four-year academic program culminates in the
senior year Capstone course, which allows students to
blend their personal educational interests and skills to
study a topic of their own selection under the guidance
of a campus and a community mentor:
by reading widely over the topic as well as
by pursuing learning through non-traditional means
through
o internship/ job shadowing,
o service learning,
o product creation, OR
o extended independent study

SKILL DEVELOPMENT
Students will:
write extensively over their research and
experiential learning as well as
refine their multi-media and public speaking
presentation skills to do with the work they study.
The culminating assignment of the fall is a research
paper supported by scholarly sources. Students are
expected:
to develop a position through their research,
experiential, and writing work

to become an informed advocate on sub-topics of

their study.
In the spring, students plan and carry out an event of
their own design, either alone or in a group, to share an
element or elements of their research work with a
group that they believe would benefit.
At the conclusion of the year, students present a
summary of all their work to a panel of evaluators,
reflecting on not only their topical learning but also
their personal growth.

WHAT DOES IT MEAN TO BE A MENTOR FOR A CAPSTONE STUDENT IN THIS PROGRAM?

A mentor is offering his or her time, expertise, and
feedback to the Capstone student interested in a field
within the mentors range of expertise. (A mentor cannot be a
family member.)

Professional journals, information about lectures or

conferences, sitting-in on conversations with
colleagues, and other learning experiences all could be
valuable to the Capstone student.

TIME:

FEEDBACK:

The minimum requirement is that a student meets with

his or her mentor at least once a month and discusses
current course work, starting in September through
March of his or her senior year. Students receive a
grade over their reflection from the meeting that
includes a verification of the meeting (usually through
an email, post-meeting).

At least twice in the mentoring experience, students will

have course work material that can be strengthened by
review of a professional mentor. The first is the
students research paper which the student compiles in
December/ January after a couple of months of
research and section-draft writing. The second is the
students plans for a Spring Action through which the
student will share some or much of the focus of his or
her research work with a community audience that the
Capstone student and mentor feel will benefit from the
sharing.

EXPERTISE:
Students may have questions about how to approach or
narrow research in the particular field. Mentors are
encouraged to share resources that they feel will help
equip the Capstone student in his or her topic focus.

PROSPECTIVE MENTOR FAQ

1. What is the required time commitment as a
mentor?
A mentor will need to meet with the student for a
minimum of 6 face-to-face meetings between
September and March. If possible, mentors are
asked to help judge Capstone projects at the end of
the course. This Capstone Evaluation Event will take
place Saturday, April 29, 2017 at Clements High
School.
2. What is my goal as a mentor?
A mentors goal should be to guide the student with
an independent and original research project.
3. To what extent does a mentor provide help?
Generally, a mentor will guide the student with the
projects research and awareness, and narrowing
the focus of the topic.
4. Is the student required to initiate contact during the
project? Or is the mentor allowed to initiate contact
during the project?
This would be a personal agreement between the
mentor and the student.
5. Are there any meeting restrictions between mentor
and mentee in regards to meeting place, etiquette,
etc.?
A mentor must be available to meet face-to-face
with a student once a month. It will be up to the
mentor and student to work out the meeting details
on what would be most convenient to both parties.
6. Are there progress reports that mentors must
complete as feedback to the Capstone teacher? If
so, what are the guidelines for this feedback?
Yes, mentors are asked to provide progress reports
to the Capstone teacher once a semester, in
December and April. A questionnaire will be
provided to guide the mentors in their assessment
of the students progress.

7. Who should a mentor contact if he or she has

questions or issues regarding a mentee?
Mentors should contact either Capstone course
teachers at Clements High School:
Glenys McMennamy
glenys.mcmennamy@fortbendisd.com
Katie Greene
katherine.greene@fortbendisd.com
8. What if a party, mentor or mentee, feels that this
partnership is not a good fit? What steps should be
taken if this happens?
Anything of concern should be communicated
directly with the students teacher either Mrs.
Greene or Mrs. McMennamy.
9. Can I or a family member mentor my own child?
Global Studies Academy parents are welcomed to
participate as a community mentor; however, they
cannot act as a mentor for their own child/ family
member.
10. How do I become a Capstone Mentor?
Follow these steps
a) Review this document/ requirements
b) Complete the contact information form:
http://goo.gl/forms/eVC0xLT9xNLHit2D3

c) Complete the Fort Bend ISD volunteer criminal

history application (also linked in form above):
http://www.fortbendisd.com/Page/830
Indicate Clements High School as
the campus.
Please note that FBISD
volunteer criminal history
checks are only valid for the
school calendar year and are renewed starting
July 1st of every year. For example, if you
submitted a criminal history application in
June, you will be required to complete another
in July.

Thank you for considering or agreeing to mentor a senior Capstone student in the FBISD Global Studies Academy.