Community Connections
Our Graduate Profile highlights the six competencies that we are dedicated to developing within our learners. CONNECTING to the world around them by respectfully working with others in meaningful and productive ways is critical to ensuring that they are ready for their futures.
Our Graduate Profile highlights the six competencies that we are dedicated to developing within our learners. CONNECTING to the world around them by respectfully working with others in meaningful and productive ways is critical to ensuring that they are ready for their futures.
As a result, we have developed a program for our high school students, CONNECTING them with personalized 1:1 mentors who provide insight and guidance for our learners, developing and refining their understanding of career fields, leadership skills, and serving as a positive adult role model.
As a result, we have developed a program for our high school students, CONNECTING them with personalized 1:1 mentors who provide insight and guidance for our learners, developing and refining their understanding of career fields, leadership skills, and serving as a positive adult role model.
In 2023-24, over 160 students have personalized mentors, with a goal to increase this number each year. Our ultimate goal is for each student who graduates from PSD to have a mentorship experience while in high school. Last year, 61% of the Class of 2023 graduated from PSD having had a mentorship experience in high school!
In 2023-24, over 160 students have personalized mentors, with a goal to increase this number each year. Our ultimate goal is for each student who graduates from PSD to have a mentorship experience while in high school. Last year, 61% of the Class of 2023 graduated from PSD having had a mentorship experience in high school!
MENTORSHIP FAQs
MENTORSHIP FAQs
What is the time commitment for the mentor?
What is the time commitment for the mentor?
Mentors commit to meeting their mentee 1-2 times per month for the duration of the academic school year (October - May). Additionally, there is email communication in the weeks between meetings.
Mentors commit to meeting their mentee 1-2 times per month for the duration of the academic school year (October - May). Additionally, there is email communication in the weeks between meetings.
Am I qualified to be a mentor?
Am I qualified to be a mentor?
If you are passionate about helping students learn about your career field or build leadership skills, then YES! All mentors must pass both a criminal and civil background check (completed online) and review a virtual training. You do NOT need to live or work locally to be a mentor.
If you are passionate about helping students learn about your career field or build leadership skills, then YES! All mentors must pass both a criminal and civil background check (completed online) and review a virtual training. You do NOT need to live or work locally to be a mentor.
Do you need new mentors now?
Do you need new mentors now?
As we continue to build an expand this program, we ALWAYS need new mentors! The career interests of our learners changes each year, and we are always looking to build new partnerships!
As we continue to build an expand this program, we ALWAYS need new mentors! The career interests of our learners changes each year, and we are always looking to build new partnerships!
What do I talk about with my student/mentee?
What do I talk about with my student/mentee?
We encourage you to share information about leadership skills, your career journey, best practices within your field, opportunities to grow and continue to learn, etc. We provide you and your mentee with a list of topics and questions to help get conversations started.
We encourage you to share information about leadership skills, your career journey, best practices within your field, opportunities to grow and continue to learn, etc. We provide you and your mentee with a list of topics and questions to help get conversations started.
How are mentor meetings set up? How long should they last?
How are mentor meetings set up? How long should they last?
Students are responsible for initiating contact every month with their mentor. The first contact with the mentor is usually a brief email or phone call to check-in and schedule a meeting. The meeting is the second contact, and can take place in-person or virtually. Most meetings last around 30 minutes, and are scheduled at a time that is convenient for both the student and the mentor.
Students are responsible for initiating contact every month with their mentor. The first contact with the mentor is usually a brief email or phone call to check-in and schedule a meeting. The meeting is the second contact, and can take place in-person or virtually. Most meetings last around 30 minutes, and are scheduled at a time that is convenient for both the student and the mentor.
Where do I meet with my mentee?
Where do I meet with my mentee?
There are many options, and what is the “right” choice really depends on you and the needs of you and your mentee. Our mentors live and work across the US, so many of our students meet virtually with their mentors. If you live locally, you are always invited to meet your mentee at our Insight Office or at Pewaukee High School. You can also invite your mentee to your business location, or you can meet at a local coffee shop or the library!
There are many options, and what is the “right” choice really depends on you and the needs of you and your mentee. Our mentors live and work across the US, so many of our students meet virtually with their mentors. If you live locally, you are always invited to meet your mentee at our Insight Office or at Pewaukee High School. You can also invite your mentee to your business location, or you can meet at a local coffee shop or the library!
Beyond our monthly meetings, can I provide other opportunities for my mentee?
Beyond our monthly meetings, can I provide other opportunities for my mentee?
Absolutely (but - this is not required)! Some of our mentors invite students to networking events, job shadows, or introduce them to others in their company. Some have completed book studies with their students, and others provide information on professional networks they can join. Additionally, you can provide critical feedback for projects they are working on in their course. We strive to keep our “asks” very realistic for our mentors. That being said, it is always a gift to our students to have them experience additional opportunities through their mentorship with you. We want you to enjoy your experience, and we want you to continue to be part of our mentoring team.
Absolutely (but - this is not required)! Some of our mentors invite students to networking events, job shadows, or introduce them to others in their company. Some have completed book studies with their students, and others provide information on professional networks they can join. Additionally, you can provide critical feedback for projects they are working on in their course. We strive to keep our “asks” very realistic for our mentors. That being said, it is always a gift to our students to have them experience additional opportunities through their mentorship with you. We want you to enjoy your experience, and we want you to continue to be part of our mentoring team.
I’m interested in becoming a mentor. What is my next step?
I’m interested in becoming a mentor. What is my next step?
If you are interested in being added to our list of mentors, please complete the brief form below. We will reach out to you to schedule a phone conversation to share details and answer any questions. If you feel that this is something you would like to try, we will walk you through the next steps to get started!
If you are interested in being added to our list of mentors, please complete the brief form below. We will reach out to you to schedule a phone conversation to share details and answer any questions. If you feel that this is something you would like to try, we will walk you through the next steps to get started!
If I have additional questions, who should I contact?
If I have additional questions, who should I contact?
Please contact Adriana Plach, Continuous Improvement Coordinator and Insight Director, at placadr@pewaukeeschools.org or 262-695-5057.
Please contact Adriana Plach, Continuous Improvement Coordinator and Insight Director, at placadr@pewaukeeschools.org or 262-695-5057.