Parent Mentor Weekly

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! ✨

Our Parent Mentors come together every Friday to engage in 'Beyond the Classroom' sessions. During these gatherings, they acquire valuable skills that they can apply both in their homes and within our classrooms, helping to foster a stronger connection between school and community

🎶 A Powerful Visit with Yolanda Brooks! 🎶

This past Friday, our Parent Mentors had the incredible opportunity to meet with Yolanda Brooks, founder and owner of Arize Beyond Productions.

Yolanda shared her inspiring vision of creating a space where music lovers of all ages, backgrounds, and skill levels can come together to learn, grow, and create. Her passion was contagious as she spoke about the transformative power of music—not just as an art form, but as a universal language that connects us all.

She reminded us that music belongs in our classrooms. 🎵 Why? Because it has the power to touch every core subject, spark creativity, and engage students in meaningful ways.

Thank you, Yolanda, for pouring into our Mentors and reigniting the rhythm of learning! 💛

🌱 Grow With Us in the Parent Mentor Program! 🌱

One of the amazing perks of joining the Parent Mentor Program is the chance to grow right here within the Woodland community. Being part of our schools opens doors to so many opportunities!

👩‍🏫 Our Parent Mentors can work toward earning their Paraprofessional License or Substitute License—and that’s just the beginning.

💼 There are a variety of roles across Woodland that might spark your interest and passion.

We’re proud to support and encourage our Mentors on their journey to becoming permanent members of our Woodland family.

🐾 Here at Woodland, we ROAR their accomplishments! 🐾

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!

🌱 Planting Seeds of Growth 🌼

At the beginning of training, each of our Parent Mentors received a small gift: a seed, soil, and a pot—a symbol of the journey they were about to begin with us.

As they nurtured their seeds, they also began to plant roots in our classrooms—building relationships, supporting learning, and growing alongside our students.

Now, as their chosen flowers begin to bloom, so too does their impact. These blossoming plants are a beautiful reminder of the seeds they’ve sown in our schools and the meaningful bonds they’ve created with our children.

💚 Every flower tells a story of care, commitment, and community.

During their training, our Parent Mentors learn that schools are built on three key pillars: the head, heart, and feet. The head represents the curriculum, the heart represents the emotions and atmosphere, and the feet represent the actions taken to bring everything to life. After the lesson, the Mentors were challenged to build their dream school, and here’s the incredible vision they came up with.

Just like our students, our Parent Mentors kicked off their first day with excitement, smiles, and of course... first day photos! 🎉

They proudly introduced themselves to our District, ready to learn, grow, and make a difference in the classroom and beyond.

Here’s to new beginnings, fresh starts, and planting seeds of change. 💛

💬 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!

2024 was a fantastic year for our Parent Mentor Program! We celebrated our second year at Woodland, and it was filled with memorable moments. To commemorate these special times, we've created a video showcasing 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