The Educator Alumni Mentor Program ensures all education students have additional resources and guidance needed to thrive during their education journey. The College of Education has a strong retention rate but recognized a gap in retaining underrepresented racial and ethnic groups and first-generation students. This program provides current students with alumni mentors who identify with the inherent challenges to teaching and learning while the students are fulfilling program requirements to become a licensed educator.
The Educator Alumni Mentorship Program, created in partnership with the Multicultural Center, is designed to enrich student experiences and improve retention. In its first year (2024-2025), the program has 24 mentor-mentee pairings.
Get Involved!
If you are a current student and would like to be considered for the Fall 2025/ Spring 2026 mentee cohort please complete the Mentee Interest Form.
If you are an ISU graduate who is currently teaching and interested in being a mentor, please complete the Alumni Mentor Interest Form.
Mentees
Our mentees are predominately sophomores, but other students are welcome to participate and are represented in the mentoring program. The current cohort includes a well-rounded group of majors in education, such as Art, History, Elementary, Music, Mathematics, and Special Education, all of whom bring unique perspectives and experiences to the mentor-mentee collaborations.
Mentors
Our mentors bring diverse expertise, teaching students across early childhood, elementary, middle, and high school levels. They also hold several leadership roles including Principal and Instructional Coach. Mentors represent a variety of teaching environments throughout Illinois, including schools in Bloomington-Normal, the Chicago suburbs, and rural districts.
Program Requirements
This leadership program is designed for all education students who believe they would benefit from having a mentor. The program requires a year-long commitment, with participants expected to meet with their mentor at least four times throughout the academic year. Students who are interested in learning more about this program should visit Redbird Life for details on an upcoming informational session.
Mentor Benefits
Mentors in the program can earn up to 25 professional development hours by completing activities in a Google Classroom site. The program is informed by Dr. Tara Yosso’s framework for Community Cultural Wealth (Yosso, 2005).
Information Session:
Join us for an upcoming information session to learn more about the program!
Mentor (online): (TBA) Mentee (hybrid): Tuesday, March 25th at 5PM (RSVP Redbird Life-Coming Soon!)
I [have] really enjoyed this program. I appreciate the conversations my mentor and I have had over the past semester. We exchanged and compared different unit plan templates which I found very helpful, even though we are in different subject areas of teaching. She also shared her experiences with getting her first teaching job which was very insightful. Along with the tips and knowledge she passed to me, she was kind and fun to talk to about the profession of teaching.”
Mentee, Emily, Art Teacher Education & Studio Ceramics, sophomore (2025)
As an alumna of Illinois State University, I've always felt a strong connection to the Redbird community. However, participating in the mentoring program has deepened that connection in ways I never imagined. Working with an undergraduate mentee has been an incredibly rewarding experience. It's given me a chance to reconnect to the university that gave me so much, and it's also provided a fascinating glimpse into the future of education through the eyes of someone just starting their journey. We've had such rich conversations about current trends, challenges, and innovative ideas in the field. I learn just as much from her as I hope she learns from me! This program is a true win-win, fostering intergenerational connections and strengthening the future of education. I highly recommend it to alumni looking to make a meaningful impact and reconnect with ISU.”
Mentor, Tonya, Special Education Teacher, Pekin Community High School, Class of 1995
Participating in the Educator Alumni Mentorship Program has allowed me to give back to a school that has given so much to me. This program has provided an easy way for me to support future teachers.”
Mentor, Patrycja, kindergarten, Ridgeview Elementary School, Class of 2019