Parent Mentor Weekly

On Friday, April 17th, we were honored to host Carrie Wings from the Lake County Children’s Advocacy Center (LCCAC). Carrie shared the vital work they do to protect and support children and families across our community. 🏾

We learned that the LCCAC is more than just a resource; they are a lifelong partner for families in need. Key highlights from her visit included:

• A "Child-First" Approach: Ensuring children and families know their rights and are always treated with the highest level of care. 🏽‍👩🏾‍👧🏾

• Comprehensive Resources: Their support doesn't end when a family leaves the facility—they offer continuous care and an open door for whenever help is needed. 🤝🏾

• The New Hospital Wing: A recent addition to their building allows for more cohesive procedures, reducing the emotional and physical burden on families during difficult times. 🏥

Learn More: The LCCAC is dedicated to ensuring the best interests of our children. To see how they serve our community or to access their resources, visit their website: 👉🏾 Friends of LCCAC

This past Friday, we welcomed local State Farm Agent Jordan Vinson for an engaging and eye-opening session on the importance of insurance. 📝🏾

Jordan provided our Mentors with a deep dive into more than just the basics of Home and Auto. He focused on:

• The Value of Life Insurance: Why it’s a vital tool for protecting your family’s future. 👨🏾‍👩🏾‍👧🏾‍👦🏾

• Affordable Add-ons: He debunked the myth that extra coverage is too expensive, showing how small additions can make a huge difference. 🪙🏾

• Education First: There was no sales pressure—just honest, helpful information to empower our community.

The session wasn't all business, though! Jordan kept things lively with Insurance Trivia, delicious cookies, and fun goodies. 🍪🏾 We even had a surprise "cameo" from Jake from State Farm for some great photo ops! 📸🏾

Have questions about your coverage? If you want to learn more or review your own policies, you can reach out to Jordan directly: 👉🏾 Contact Jordan Vinson Here

This past Friday, our Parent Mentors traveled to the House of Hope on Chicago’s South Side for the annual Parent Mentor Convention. To give you a sense of the scale, this historic venue recently hosted the funeral of Reverend Jesse Jackson; it is an immense space, and it was filled to capacity with over 2,000 Parent Mentors, Coordinators, and Legislators.

Once a year, we gather to celebrate the heart of our program: our Parent Mentors. This convention is our way of thanking them for their dedicated service, volunteering two hours a day, four days a week, to support students within their communities.

The day was filled with inspiration and energy:

• Keynote Speakers: We heard moving speeches from Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson, various community organizations, and state legislators who champion our program and advocate for its importance.

• Cultural Celebration: The event concluded with a vibrant celebration! Our DJ played a seamless string of cultural hits that kept everyone on their feet. It was a beautiful, inclusive atmosphere where everyone felt seen and celebrated.

• Networking & Memories: Between the speeches and the dancing, it was a day of powerful networking and making memories with colleagues from across the state.

We are already looking forward to next year! Please enjoy the gallery below, featuring photos taken by both our Parent Mentor Coordinator and the mentors themselves, allowing you to experience the day through their eyes.

Hooray! We officially have a program display at Woodland Elementary! The next time you are at the school, head over to the East Entrance to check out our Parent Mentor Program showcase.

Our mentors work hard all year long, but we definitely know how to have fun, too! Right now, you can see:

• 🏫 "Dream Schools"

• 🏗️ "The Foundation Project" – where each mentor decorated a block to represent their unique contribution to our team.

Together, we are building something amazing! We’ll be adding more to the display as the year goes on, so keep checking back.

📸 Challenge: If you stop by, take a selfie with the display and send it to tabbey@lake.k12.il.us! We’d love to see who has been visiting!

#u+us=movement #ParentMentors #WoodlandElementary #CommunityStrong

After dedicating over 600 incredible hours of volunteering to the Parent Mentor program, we have some exciting—yet bittersweet—news to share. Day has officially earned her Paraprofessional license! 🎓🏾

While we are sad to see her leave the program, we are overjoyed that she is pursuing her dream of becoming a Paraprofessional right here at Woodland. It has been a privilege to watch her grow as a parent, a mentor, and a dear friend to us all. 🧡🏾

Day, we are so proud to see you spread your wings and join the Woodland team as an employee. We will miss you in the program, but we know you’re going to do amazing things in your new role!

We are thrilled to highlight a special collaboration where students and Parent Mentors participated in a hands-on seed-planting project. This initiative goes beyond biology; it symbolizes the lasting impact of mentorship in nurturing a student's growth.

A special shout-out to Ms. Werner’s 5th-grade class and their mentor, Sara, for their dedication to this project. It is wonderful to see their plant—and their partnership—growing so strong. We look forward to seeing this project continue to blossom! 🌱

Our Parent Mentors are taking their plants home for some extra TLC during the break! We can’t wait to see how much they "grow" while spending time with their families. Stay tuned—we’ll share a "plant-date" to show you how well they’ve thrived once we’re back!

Ladders of Opportunity is an initiative launched by the Parent Engagement Institute to support Parent Mentors’ career and education pathways and generate talent pipelines to mitigate critical school staffing shortages.

The Ladders of Opportunity initiative started out with us asking how we can better support Parent Mentors in pursuing their dreams, especially in terms of career and education pathways. And guess what? As Parent Mentors discover their passion for education through their volunteer work, it turns out that we can also help our schools fill vital roles.

Paraprofessional vacancies made up 37% (more than 1 in 3!) of all school district vacancies in the state last year. These vacancies disproportionately harm students with disabilities because so many paraprofessionals are Special Education Classroom Assistants (SECA’s).

Creating pathways to paraprofessional and teaching careers is an act of disability justice while also supporting the student’s overall social-emotional well-being.

Sara is in her first year as a Parent Mentor with us, and she has already gone above and beyond by earning her Substitute License. She is a wonderful addition to our program and brings such a positive presence to the classroom.

Congratulations, Sara! 🎉

Jim is in his third year with us and has successfully earned his substitute license through our Ladders of Opportunity program. He is a true joy in the classroom and a wonderful partner to his teacher. Congratulations, Jim—we are incredibly proud of you!

Please join us in congratulating Dayanely on earning her Paraprofessional License!

She took advantage of our Ladders of Opportunity program and successfully received her certification. With this achievement, she is now eligible to apply at Woodland to become a paraprofessional.

We are so proud of you, Dayanely — congratulations on this amazing accomplishment! 💚🤍

We are so proud to share some exciting news about one of our own! After serving as a dedicated Parent Mentor for two years, Sobia has officially transitioned into a full-time role as a Playground Supervisor for Woodland.

While we were sad to see her leave her mentor role, we are overjoyed to see her take this next step. Sobia is a perfect example of how volunteering can lead to a career, and we know she will continue to do amazing things keeping our students safe and supported on the playground!

Please join us in congratulating Jessamyn! She started last year as a Parent Mentor and has now successfully completed our Ladders of Opportunity program to earn her Paraprofessional License. We're so proud to announce that she has been hired as a Para at the Intermediate School. While we'll miss her as a Parent Mentor, we couldn't be happier for her! Be sure to give her a warm welcome and wish her the best on her first year as a Wildcat.

Following the positive reception of the Building Your Dream School project last year, we've decided to launch it again! This year, our Parent Mentors created a new Dream School design, which is now on display in the hallway for everyone to see.

Want to make a difference in your child’s school and community? Join the Parent Mentor Program at Woodland!

🧡 Our Parent Mentors support classrooms 2 hours a day, 4 days a week
🤝 Twice a week, they participate in 1.5-hour workshops focused on community building, leadership, and learning how to make a positive impact in our district.

This is more than volunteering—it's about growing together, learning together, and making our schools even stronger.

✨ Become a Parent Mentor and be a changemaker in your community! ✨

Have you seen the "candy salad" trend taking over TikTok? Well, we put our own spin on it, and it was a sugar-fueled success!

Our incredible Parent Mentors gathered for a fun, creative session. Each mentor brought their favorite candy, and here's the twist: they also shared ONE WORD that captures what being a Parent Mentor means to them.

The words were as vibrant and diverse as the candy itself! We heard so many heartfelt expressions. It was truly inspiring to see how each mentor's unique experience contributed to the beautiful mix.

Then came the fun part – the candy salad creation! We poured all the candies into a big bowl, mixed it up, and watched as the colors and flavors swirled together, just like our amazing community.

To top it off, we packed up little goodie bags for everyone to take home and share with their families (we hope they shared!). It was a sweet reminder of the support and connection that makes our Parent Mentor program so special.

This activity was a perfect blend of fun, creativity, and meaningful connection. It’s a great example of how we find unique ways to celebrate our mentors and the incredible work they do.

What's YOUR favorite candy? And what's one word that comes to mind when you think of a Parent Mentor? Share your thoughts in the comments!

💬 Our Parent Mentors LOVE what they do! 💬

So much so, they’ve shared their own experiences with us—check out their heartfelt testimonials below. 💛

Their words say it best: being a Parent Mentor is more than just volunteering—it's about connection, growth, and making a real difference.

🌟 Want to join us?

We’re always looking for passionate parents ready to make an impact. Come grow with us!

What a fantastic year!

We celebrated our third year at Woodland with the Parent Mentor Program, and it was filled with so many memorable moments. We created this video to look back at some of our favorite highlights.

We hope you enjoy reliving these wonderful memories with us!

Parent Mentors, help fill persistent equity gaps by volunteering in classrooms for 2 hours/day for at least 100 hours. The Parent Mentors are supported by weekly training on classroom instructional practices and leadership training. As a result, they support each other to pursue their goals and unite the school community for long-term change.

Email: tabbey@lake.k12.IL.us
Location: Woodland Elementary School, West Gages Lake Road, Gages Lake, IL, USA