Mentoring Academy
Community SubscriberMentoring Academy offers individualized student support by caring, professional mentors (teachers) in a small-school setting
Many teens struggle with the aftermath of the Covid years. Does your student need a different learning environment than the average school provides?
We pride ourselves in helping students learn and grow in all aspects of their lives: in their academics, social growth, psychological health, and commitment to their own development including college admissions, national testing, happiness, and essential life skills.
We have a few openings for 9-12th grade students for the current school year and also accept applications for 2023-2024.
We offer:
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- Very small classes, 2 to 5 students, with lots of individual 1:1 time.
- Focus on developing important relationships with mentors, peers and family.
- School work is not just completed, but skills are mastered so the student is ready for what is next. No falling through the cracks.
- Experienced, caring, mentors gauge needed support and guide mastery of strong academics, identify stumbling blocks, help students create solutions.
- The result pf the trusting, knowledgeable, relationships is that students seek help without fear of being judged or belittled.
- Expectations are high, but support makes attaining the goals doable. School should not be painful. The relationships, coupled with individualized learning can make it joyful.
- School work is done at school so mentors do the teaching and the family has a life at home.
- All-school International study and travel (Cuba, Poland, Guatemala, Italy, Costa Rica)
- Classes, activities, retreats, individual time, daily events support each student’s ability to interact and obtain help as needed. Graduates go to college faculty office hours because they are comfortable with adults and professors.
- Staff is experienced with diverse students including those who:
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- are willing to seriously engage,
- become anxious,
- are driven to be perfect or quit,
- just love learning,
- have social challenges,
- think they are not good enough,
- already have strong academic skills and want to employ them,
- are attached to electronics,
- have difficulty completing assignments.
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- Students make mistakes, run into difficulties, act poorly. Staff assist each one to learn to do better rather than punish.
- Students experience the joy of their growth and power by really learning important skills, sharing, thinking and succeeding.
- A complete, extensive College Admissions Support Program is included in curriculum.
- Accredited, with a 10 year history of supporting students as they change their lives.
- Rolling admissions.
We have room for a few others to join us for the 2022—23 journey and the Fall 24 school year.
Please visit our website.
Parent Q&A
Parent Reviews
Parents, please Sign in to post a review on this page.After enrolling our son in two private high schools in two years, we were consistently told that our son was bright and well-behaved, but undisciplined in his work habits. No matter how hard we worked with him to accommodate the school's expectations, we found that our efforts were not reciprocated by the schools. So, it was like a ray of light when we found the Mentoring Academy. From the first time we walked into the school for the interview with the headmaster, it was clear that the school was all about the student, because the headmaster spoke with our son for the most part of it, and asked him insightful questions. But when he said that he key to a successful teacher/student relationship is when the teacher determines that their time is worth investing in the student, I knew we found the right place. Mentoring Academy is a small school that reminds me of a schoolhouse. It is a wonderful community of smart and engaging students, and enthusiastic and caring teachers. Because the school is very small, students get the individual attention they need in weaker subjects, and the chance to blaze through the subject in which they excel. The result is a thorough knowledge of all subjects to graduate high school. They are prepared to enter most colleges, if not all, of their choice. In addition, the school plans many wonderful excursions to places both near and far (as in abroad), and there are plenty of opportunities for students to pursue their interests in independent projects and volunteering, and get credit for them as well. Lastly, school hours run from 9:00AM to 5:30PM, so almost all homework is completed at school, leaving the student free to pursue personal interests when outside of school. As a parents, our biggest fear was after such negative experiences at the previous schools, he would become indifferent to school. However, Mentoring Academy, because of how the school is organized, allows him to pursue his interests as far as he wants to take them. It has been such a joy to see our son bloom again with confidence and curiosity about the world. We knew it was always there, but it was the great teachers and the relationships developed at the Mentoring Academy that was able to coax it out and get him to flourish.
Our child has been at Mentoring for three years now. We have a very bright kid who just couldn't fit in at school; high test scores, but failing. We were in two separate highly rated school districts but still could not find the right learning environment.
Mentoring Academy saved our child. From a sulky teenager who hated school to an engaged kid.
John Muster gets to know each student, discovering their unique qualities to bring out the learner in each student. He has picked equally caring and intellectually stimulating teachers who engage students. Mentoring Academy fits teaching and education to the student.
Students from 8th grade to 12th, learn in small groups and through online accredited programs. They are in school from 9 to 5:30. All work is completed during those hours; leaving students with free time in the evenings and weekends.
Mentoring is a exceptional school providing a unique learning environment.
Archived Q&A and Reviews
Dec 2015
Re: Unmotivated, unfocused bright 16 yr old boy who hates cookie-cutter school
Hi, have you considered alternative schools? In particular, Mentoring academy is great for bright intense kids. Very warm environment, engaged teachers and students. My son desperately wanted to go there (we didn't send him there because we thought he should try a more standard school--however, Mentoring works at teaching students to thrive in standard schools as well, so maybe we were wrong about that!). We love the school. Maybe go to an open house, if they are still having any, and see if your son likes it? I had to drag my son to the open house and then I couldn't get him to leave....it's a wonderful place. My impression is that people either find it a good match or not rather quickly. He could likely start right away too as they have the kids working at their own speeds (which is why some of the kids are working well into college level). I hope it works out for you!! another parent of a different sort of kid
After two years at a very stressful public high school where our son was putting in decent effort but not succeeding, we moved him to the Mentoring Academy in Rockridge. He loves it - It’s ''200% better'' according to him. It is a game changer and is inspiring him in many areas of learning. They have a longer school day and mostly zero homework as a tradeoff for the longer day. The no homework policy was something my family needed in our life as the homework battle was damaging our relationships. He has only been there a few months, and it may not be as academic as where he was, but we feel thankful to have found him a school that is the right fit for him. Kim
Oct 2013
Re: Private high school for disorganized smart kid
We had a great experience with the Mentoring Academy after a disastrous experience with a small private school. Mentoring provides a self-paced, individualized learning experience. The director, John Muster, is a caring and engaged individual. He will spend significant time and energy getting to know your child and designing a program that is a good fit. He looks at the whole child - not just the academic piece. Mentoring is an all-day school with little to no homework (schoolwork is done during school hours, 9-5). This is a wonderful relief if you and your child are tired of homework dance. Hope this helps. MM
Dec 2012
Mentoring Academy is a new school, headed by John Muster, the former head at Maybeck High School. Our son has been very happy there this year. He is able to pursue classes that really engage him -- he is taking accredited high school classes as well as two college classes. The classes at Mentoring are a combination of on-line classes and classes taught at school. The students are at school from 9-5:30, and do all their work at school and have evenings and weekends without any homework, which we find to work really well. We have known John Muster for five years (both our children were students at Maybeck). He has a great rapport with students and encourages their intellectual curiosity and enthusiasm for learning. I think this school would work well for a lot of different kinds of students--certainly for bright, outside of the box kids, but also for students who are still figuring out what their passions are. The Mentoring environment encourages students to take the good kinds of risks--to try new kinds of classes and to learn about new things, in a supportive environment. Parent of a Mentoring Academy Student
Dec 2012
John Muster created Mentoring Academy with a vision of "providing the most effective, vibrant, human, compelling, and engaging learning environment possible." This vision exactly reflects what John provided to our son as his mentor/independent study English teacher in the year leading up to the launch of Mentoring Academy in the fall of 2012. John is an amazing educator. I highly recommend that you check out Mentoring Academy for your child's High School education. It is conveniently located near Rockridge BART on College Avenue.
Our Story: John Muster was head teacher at Maybeck High School when we first met him several years ago. We were looking for a High School in the Berkeley area that would appropriately accommodate our very bright, but extremely dyslexic son. John and our son really hit it off when they met, and though our son was not a good fit for Maybeck, John became his private tutor (for lack of a better word) for over a year as a result of their meeting. I would describe John's approach to teaching as diagnostic (what mastery is needed?), compassionate and inspiring. Our son was especially struggling with his tenth grade English class, so John helped us arrange for our son to complete the year long course with him as independent study. John was able to capture our son's interest by identifying topics he'd be excited to read and write about, and help him master a process for writing academic papers that he could carry forward to all his classes. John ultimately had our son give presentations at his school based on his papers to build other teachers' awareness of his capabilities, as well as his self esteem.
Working with John has truly transformed our son's academic life. With the launch of Mentoring Academy, your High School student now has the awesome possibility of working with John and his colleagues themselves. Rosanne
Dec 2012
I have a son who is in the 11th grade and who is both dyslexic and dysgraphic. Over the years he has had extensive tutoring for language based skills. John Muster the head of Mentoring academy worked with my son for several months and the results of his tutoring have been astonishing. Previously, my son struggled to complete his writing assignments and he can now complete them without significant help. His writing grades have significantly improved from a D to a B. I know that my sons improvement is due to the help that was provided to him by John. From talking with John, I know he has a very special approach to teaching. I believe it starts with getting to know the student as a person and trying to identify the students strengths and weaknesses. John then puts together a tutoring program for that student. In my conversations with John, I also know that he is continually thinking about the student and what can be done to better serve the student. John is very personable and is very good at engaging the student in the work. If my son was just starting high school, the Mentoring Academy and John Muster would be the first on my list of schools. wjb
Nov 2012
We have a middle schooler who will be applying to high school in a few years, and we are wondering what schools might be a good fit for him down the line. We're not convinced a hard core college prep school is the best route, but we might be wrong. We're guessing he'll be an engineering or designing sort of person eventually, he's definitely geek/nerd type and creative (and perhaps alternative), but not a model student! We are interested in hearing from parents who have kids like this who are in high school now--what schools work or don't work (and why), and perhaps a bit about your kid(s) to get a sense if their experiences might be something we might encounter as well. Thank you very much. anon
My son is a first year student at the Mentoring Academy, a new high school in Rockridge. Coursework is individualized and self-paced, with plenty of opportunity to work one on one with mentor-teachers. It's new, but I'd encourage you to check it out. Students there are the kind of kids who build things in their spare time--and they have spare time b/c there is a long school day but no homework. Definitely a good place for bright, creative kids who may not do as well in more traditional classroom settings. Mentoring Academy is college preparatory, but there's far less pressure than at most high schools. Happy Mentoring Academy Parent
Nov 2012
Re: Highly gifted ADHD student - which high school?
We have experience with both Tilden Prep and Mentoring Academy. Both schools are good at what they do but they work on very different models.
Our oldest child attended Tilden for one year, getting individual instruction from teachers. The directors are both knowledgeable in the education field, and we found the teachers to mostly be good. They are well-prepared in the topics they teach but they are not necessarily trained as teachers. The school seems to work well for students who are motivated and are able to get work done independently. It also allows students who are struggling with a subject to go at a slower pace. Because the classes are one-on-one it can get expensive.
Our younger child attends the new Mentoring Academy. The students take a mix of Mentoring classes and on-line classes. The classes are accredited and meet UC requirements. A wide range of classes is available and students who are ready for more challenging classes take college-level classes. They are at school from 9-5:30, working on their classes, getting individual tutoring, or working with other students on projects. They also participate in various social events. They complete all their work at school and don't have homework. Our child attended a private high school for two years and was a good student, but somewhat bored. At Mentoring he is taking classes that really interest him. The director, John Muster, is a gifted educator. He was well-respected by parents and students as the head of Maybeck High School. He has an amazing rapport with the students. At Mentoring he works closely with the students to make sure that they get the right classes and are actively engaged in their own educations. Mentoring Academy is new and still very small, but I imagine it will grow quickly as the word gets out, and there are plans to add art and other classes. It has been exciting to see our son so engaged in his classes. Even though he does not have homework he sometimes works at home because he is so interested in what he is doing. A Berkeley Parent
Each of the three schools mentioned has strong and effective solutions to meeting the needs of students. All three provide self-paced instruction. This posting is a brief explanation of the features of Mentoring Academy because there are some important differences. Students are expected to be at Mentoring Academy from 9 to 5:30 each day to meet with teacher-mentors, engage in projects with other students, participate in discussions and to complete their individual work. We do not send students home with homework, rather expect them to complete all work with the support and guidance of the mentors on staff and engaged with them during the school day. Evenings are for families, following personal interests, and resting in preparation for the next day. Social, travel, all school and joint events provide for a rich interpersonal life as well as a strong academic environment. Every student is placed at their appropriate level whether it be Advanced Calculus, AP courses, or modules that assist in mastering skills missed in earlier schooling. All courses are mastery, project, self-paced, mentored and engaging. A-G approved courses. The approach is to support individual student mastery, accepting the fact that no two students are alike. John Muster, Director of Mentoring Acadcemy
Thanks to all respondents. Our conclusions: about Mentoring Academy, John Muster: the program is small and new. We visited and met twice with John. Significantly, my son wanted to transfer there after meeting and feeling extremely comfortable with John and the students. I found John's engagement with my son and the other kids to be excellent -- respectful, insightful, and encouraging a reflective and investigative attitude. Different than Tilden in that although each studies on his own, students are on site all day, interacting during breaks, with John and the tutors. We decided not to enroll there, and not for reasons of cost -- it is actually sliding scale. We decided for BISP instead to facilitate our kid's sustained participation in BHS classes and groups he is already involved in.
Aug 2012
I have two older teenagers, both of whom are gifted, yet each with rather different learning styles and both of whom have had John Muster, the founder of the Mentoring Academy, as both a teacher and advisor. I can easily say that he is an exceptional educator who truly knows and connects with young people and is a brilliant and caring man as well. (Believe me, the kids can tell!) Had this school been available a few years back, I would have loved to have sent my kids to Mentoring Academy for their high school education! Julie '
Hi,
I feel extremely fortunate to have found and was able to have my daughter enrolled at Mentoring Academy. She started attending last January 2016 as a 9th grader. She does not have a learning disability but was extremely challenged with large public school settings and offerings. She was falling between the cracks and was finding it difficult to excel and enjoy her school experience. Mentoring to me is a glorified home schooling opportunity. The staff are incredible, they amaze me on a regular basis on the extent of involvement and attention that they provide to my daughter, I feel blessed to have them working with her. There are some social issues but the social issues at her previous schools were substantially far worse in different aspects. These kids are all there wanting to learn which was such a relief to my daughter and obviously for me as well. Happy to share out further if you have other thoughts or concerns.
Take care,
Nancy
Mentoring Academy was a lifesaver for our family. Our son had difficulties as a sophomore at a large public school and attended Mentoring for his last two years of High School and it worked out brilliantly. He was among a group of talented students who required a little bit of personal direction which MA staff provided to each and every one of them. Our son is now in his third year of College and will do a double honors program in his final year. I can't speak highly enough of the headmaster who has an extraordinary capacity to bring out the best in everyone and is very experienced, as are his staff. The school takes a holistic approach, in and out of the class room and ensures that no student is left behind. I would strongly recommend that you enroll your child and give it a go. He and you will work out very quickly, with the staff, a suitable approach to help him achieve his goals.
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Thank you all for your insight! I appreciate it.
PS. I work for an organization where we provide employment to people with developmental and intellectual disabilities and I teach job skills to them so I am always surrounded with a population who has LD's and they are lovely people!
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