Pilots mentor pupils – Southwest program helps kids reach goals

At Southwest Airlines, the flight attendants are usually the zany ones on board. This month, some pilots will get in on the act.

The airline’s annual Adopt-A-Pilot mentoring program for fifth-graders is under way, and with it comes pilots turned poets, passenger pen pals and more.

Dawn Gilbertson
The Arizona Republic

http://www.azcentral.com/arizonarepublic/business/articles/0224adoptapilot24.html

The 7-year-old program, which runs for four weeks each year, pairs more than 450 Southwest pilots with 18,000 pupils around the country, many in low-income areas.

They meet once a week in the classroom and stay in touch when the pilot’s on the road. There’s a curriculum incorporating science, math, geography and writing. It’s all done with a heavy dose of fun. At the kickoff last week, pupils participated in a paper airplane contest. The goal is to show pupils the importance of education in reaching their goals.

"We’ve found that pilots make great mentors," program spokeswoman Linda Hochster said. "They’re great role models."

The pilots have diverse backgrounds, with many starting out in the military, which showcases different education options for pupils, she said.

The uniforms are always a hit, too.

"There’s something glamorous about being a pilot," Hochster said.

Southwest pilot Paul Howell, a 42-year-old Ahwatukee resident, is volunteering for the first time this year. He has been adopted by Conchos Elementary School in south Phoenix.

Howell is sharing the reams of paperwork pilots must fill out for each flight, as well as tales of his travels. Last week saw him in Las Vegas, Raleigh, N.C., and Indianapolis, among other places. The pupils get to learn about all the cities through his trips. Many pilots e-mail details of their travels.

On one flight, he shared a poem written by one of the Conchos students. Other pilots have asked passengers to write notes to participating students.

Howell, who doesn’t have children, said it’s fun to return to the classroom. He hopes to leave his pupils with the idea that it’s not too early to start thinking about possible careers and what it will take to get there.

"I would like to see them just start thinking about maybe what they’d like to do," he said. "There’s a lot of jobs out there. The main thing is just setting some goals for yourself. I think that’s important for kids."