For some, lending a helping hand and helping to steer people in the right direction is second nature. This trait has always come easy to Sherri Silcox, the Program Manager of the Safe Harbor Program, Hours for Ours Program and the Michigan City Robotics Program.
While in college, she never aspired to hold a particular career, rather, she followed a pathway of opportunities that led her to where she is today.
“I went into my career naturally. I love what I do. I can go home every day feeling like I did something that day. Money and material things have never been at the top of my list of the important things in life. The top things of my list have always been helping and talking with people, especially kids,” Silcox said.
Early in her career, she was an active volunteer at Coolspring Elementary School, aiding students in classrooms. After a while, she began working in the cafeteria and later became the library secretary.
“This allowed me to be creative: I hung decorations, I could come up with ways to teach students how to use the library and I could read to students. Reading is one of the things that has always been important to me,” Silcox said.
Her interest in reading directed Silcox to become the Coordinator at BabyTALK Early Literacy Program, which helps parents realize the importance of reading to their children at an early age.
Simultaneously, she was the Administrative Assistant at Even Start Family Literacy Program, a program that helps those who were unable to finish high school earn their GED and graduate.
Herb Higgin, Coordinator of the Safe Harbor Program, noticed Silcox’s obvious passion for helping children succeed, and asked her to be a part of the Safe Harbor Program.
Safe Harbor is an after-school program in the Michigan City Area Schools that provides students in all grade levels with a safe environment, positive adult role models, homework help, tutoring, credit recovery and helps students become college and career ready.
This program also allows students to engage in enrichment activities that might not be available to them during school hours. Some of these include horticulture, hands-on STEM activities, field trips, community service opportunities, robotics, and recreational and wellness activities. Students also might find their own talents and hobbies through art, music and dance classes provided by the Lubeznik Center for the Arts.
"The Safe Harbor Program is really a hidden treasure because it offers so many opportunities to students," Silcox said.
Hours for Ours is a Michigan City Area Schools stand-alone school-based program that is partnered with Safe Harbor. This program matches caring adults in the community with students to help them work to their full potential. Both the mentor and the student benefit from the mentoring experience, teaching them both about each other and themselves.
“Mentoring is for everyone and it is important for everyone to have a mentor in their lives. Follow your heart and get involved in mentoring opportunities at lunchtime or after school or be a student’s inspiration for future success and concentrate on college and career readiness,” Silcox said.
In addition to her other responsibilities, Silcox worked together with Higgin and Al Walus to start Michigan City Robotics, a program that provides children of all grade levels with mentors and the skills and tools to become successful.
The Michigan City Robotics programs are part of the worldwide FIRST Robotics, which was started by Dean Kamen, inventor of the Segway.
Michigan City Robots has programs such as the FIRST Lego League (FLL) – a beginning robotics program for children in elementary and middle school. Another popular program is the FIRST Robotics Competition (FRC) which is for high school students.
The FIRST Robotics programs teach students to be "gracious professionals," teaching them how to be gracious in competition.
Every day, Silcox is kept busy by managing programs, receiving referrals of people who might benefit from mentoring as well as supervising the elementary and high school after-school programs. She also goes to meetings, completes evaluations and recruits mentors.
Silcox adores her job, and believes in helping kids work to their full potential.
“I’ve learned that our school corporation works really hard to make students successful and that we have a lot of wonderful things going on in the district that people are unaware of. Every one of these programs has been important in some way to the students that we serve and I am glad to be a part of it,” Silcox said.
Her involvement in the corporation has led to many new opportunities for Silcox both personally and professionally. Her love and passion for her job is portrayed through her work on a daily basis and she continuously has more to offer to those around her.
Between her busy work schedule and involvement in several programs, she balances her personal life being a wife, mother and grandmother. Silcox and Andy, her husband of thirty-six years, have four daughters together: Sara, Mallori, Lauren and Bethany. They also have four grandchildren.
In her free time, she takes pleasure in spending time with her family, which is what makes her happiest.
She has taught her children the importance of having a mentor in their lives and has instilled strong values in each and every one of them. Being a mother has changed her life drastically, but all for the better. She hopes to have her passion for helping others reflect onto other people in her life as well.
“I think it is important to help other people. You can be part of the solution, or part of the problem, and I believe that if you are doing something positive, you are part of the solution,” Silcox said.
January is National Mentoring Month, setting the focus on the need for mentors in work environments, schools, faith communities and nonprofit organizations. This campaign promotes the idea that working together and being a role model for others assures positive outcomes and has a positive effect on youth.
Although January is almost over, there is still time to be a mentor to others, as Silcox has been a mentor to several.
If interested in becoming a mentor, one might become a catalyst for a student's success through the STEM Program, the FIRST Robotics Program, mentoring in the horticulture program, or even one-on-one mentoring during lunchtime or after school. If interested in being a mentor for either program, go to http://mcas.schoolwires.net/Page/180. They welcome new mentors year-long and love seeing kids grow with their education.
Silcox has dedicated her time and talents to several students over the years, and it is simple for everyone else to be as inspirational, admirable and commendable as she has been.