A Case Study of Middle School Student, Parent, and Teacher Perceptions of a Peer Mentoring Program

As Parkway West Middle examined solutions for students struggling academically, peer mentoring was an appropriate low cost intervention and as a result the BOOST (Bringing Out Optimal Student Talents) peer mentoring program was started. The BOOST Program is an after school peer mentoring program that focused on executive functioning skills, with the point of enhancing school connectedness, and developing leadership skills. The purpose of the study was to examine the perceptions of students, teachers, and parents of the BOOST Program, as it related to growth with executive functioning skills, school connectedness, and leadership. An intrinsic case study was the vehicle to determine the perceptions of the BOOST Program. Data collection from the study was an end of the program evaluation administered to students, while parents and teachers completed a questionnaire. A qualitative design was used as the method to analyze the data. The qualitative method was selected to gather a deep understanding of the participants' perceptions regarding the BOOST Program. The primary findings of the study produced that students, parents, and teachers overwhelming found the BOOST Program to be a positive growth experience for students. The research offered Parkway West Middle School with valid input regarding the BOOST Program. The researcher recommends additional research to be gathered with a questionnaire at the beginning of the program and then again at the end.