Zuleima
Yolanda
Parent Mentor Expansion Creates Educational Opportunities
HACES (Hispanic American Community Education and Services) and United Way of Lake County have offered a parent mentorship program with the Waukegan Elementary School District for three years. Parents are trained as mentors, volunteer in a classroom several times a week, and receive training on literacy, computer skills, etc. Parent Mentors who complete sufficient hours may receive a modest stipend. In 2024, the program included one Manager, six Coordinators, and 53 parent mentors.
In 2024, Lake County Workforce Development piloted an expansion of the successful parent mentor program. Parent mentors were offered the opportunity to return to the workforce and to be paid as an intern within the school district. Through the ARPA grant, Lake County Workforce Development paid the wages of nine parents who participated in internships; following the internship, two were hired as Paraprofessionals in April 2024 working directly for the Waukegan Elementary School District. Two of the goals are to address the professional educator shortage and the increasing need for bilingual support within the district. The internships provided a direct pipeline for parents to test out being fully dedicated to a school on a full-time basis. Ivette Martinez who manages the Parent Mentor programs, expains, “Without the internship, parents might not feel qualified or know where to start.” During the most recent cohort, nine parents became interns and two moved on to be hired directly by the Waukegan School District as Paraprofessionals.
Zuleima (pictured left) volunteered as a Parent Mentor for two years. Her previous experience was in cosmetology, but she wanted to transition into the educational field. She worked as an intern for five months before being hired directly by the Waukegan Public School District as a Paraprofessional.
Yolanda (pictured left) was also hired as a Paraprofessional and says that the internship had a very positive impact on her life. Last school year she was assigned to work with a student on a 1:1 basis, and this year she will continue supporting the same student who will now be entering 2nd grade. Yolanda notes that she is still learning every day, but she feels more equipped for her role as a Paraprofessional as a result of her participation in the Parent Mentor Program and the Workforce Development internship.
The Parent Mentor Manager and six Coordinators (pictured below) attended a Train-the-Trainer event at the Job Center of Lake County where they learned about current resume practices and AI tools. They will take this information and pass it on to the 50+ parent mentors that they oversee. This dissemination of knowledge magnifies the impact of the Job Center’s expertise and resources.
