Mentors
Tennessee's statewide college access and career preparation mentoring program. Learn how mentors help students complete college access milestones, prepare for their future career and begin building their professional network.
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Access Mentors
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Access Mentoring supports high school seniors as they transition from high school to college.
Mentors guide students through critical college access and TN Promise milestones.
The focus is on organization, accountability, and timely completion of requirements.
Who Access Mentors Serve
High school seniors planning to enroll in postsecondary education.
Students navigating college applications, financial aid, and enrollment steps.
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Milestone Awareness and Accountability
Help students understand required milestones and deadlines.
Encourage steady progress and early completion when possible.
Use the Mentor Portal to monitor student status.
College and Career Guidance
Support students in selecting colleges and majors aligned with their goals.
Connect education choices to long-term career interests.
Resource Connection
Direct students to appropriate resources for FAFSA, applications, and campus questions.
Reinforce that mentors are guides, not required to complete forms on behalf of students.
Celebration and Encouragement
Acknowledge milestone completion.
Reinforce student confidence during a high-pressure year.
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Communication Guidelines
Communicate with students at least every two weeks.
Mentors lead outreach and follow-up.
Text messaging is encouraged when appropriate.
Mentor Best Practices
Be consistent and proactive.
Share personal education experiences when helpful.
Update the tnAchieves Mentor Portal with student progress and concerns.
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aCCESS Mentoring Kick-Off Webinar
tnAchieves Access Mentors are encouraged to view this session for key next steps, action items and guidance that inform your initial work with students!
Workforce Mentors
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Workforce Mentors support students as they complete postsecondary programs and transition into the workforce.
Mentors focus on career readiness, professional skill development, and employment preparation.
This mentoring phase builds on college persistence by preparing students for meaningful careers in Tennessee.
Who do Workforce Mentors serve?
Students nearing completion of a postsecondary credential.
Students exploring career options, job readiness, and professional pathways.
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Career Exploration
Help students clarify career interests and long-term goals.
Support exploration of industries, roles, wage potential, and local employers.
Use career exploration tools to guide structured conversations.
Resume and Interview Preparation
Assist students with resume creation and refinement.
Share best practices for job searching and professional presentation.
Conduct mock interviews and provide constructive feedback.
Professional Network Development
Help students understand the value of professional networking.
Coach students on professional communication and follow-up.
When appropriate, help students identify job shadowing or networking opportunities.
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Communication Guidelines
Communicate with students at least bi-weekly.
Mentors should initiate and sustain communication.
Text messaging is encouraged when appropriate and preferred by the student.
Mentor Best Practices
Ask clear, direct questions.
Share personal career experiences when helpful.
Maintain consistency and persistence, even when responses are delayed.
Update the tnAchieves Mentor Portal regularly to report progress and challenges.
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Workforce Mentoring Kick-Off Webinar
tnAchieves Workforce Mentors are encouraged to view this session for key next steps, action items and guidance that inform your initial work with students!
The tnAchieves Mentor Hall of Fame recognizes mentors who have shown unwavering dedication to supporting students and engaging with tnAchieves programs in their community. While all mentors contribute significantly, the inductees below have been longtime champions of this work, consistently ensuring tnAchieves students are supported in their pursuit of a post-secondary credential. We are deeply grateful for their enduring partnership.
A new class is inducted into the Mentor Hall of Fame each fall.
Mentor
Hall of Fame
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Debbie Adams - Sequatchie County
Rebecca Ashford - Hamilton/Knox County
Janice Bettis - Sevier County
Veenita Bisaria - Knox County
Randy Boyd - Knox County
Ricky Boyd - Obion County
Karen Bowyer - Dyer County
John Cagle - Jefferson County
Dan Caldwell - Rutherford County
Owen Driskill - Anderson/Knox County
Beth Duffield - Rutherford County
Lindsay Frilling - Obion County
Janice Goldthreate - Shelby County
Matthew Hunter - Hamblen/Hawkins County
Shanna Jackson - Davidson County
Tish Jones - Hamblen County
Youlanda Jones - Lauderdale County
Michael Laman - Knox County
Kelly Lancaster - Rutherford County
Mark Luttrell - Shelby County
Allen Lutz - Roane County
Greg Martz - Humphreys County
Christy Newman - Blount County
Don Polley - Gibson/Madison County
Mike Ragsdale - Knox County
Rich Ray - Knox County
Mischelle Simcox - Johnson County
Michael Torrence - Coffee/Putnam County
Kasey Vatter - Knox/Sumner County
Cliff Wightman - Cumberland County
Tim Williams - Knox County
Anthony Wise - Knox County
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Callie Archer - Anderson County
Julie Bennett - Marion County
Jim Barrott - Hamilton County
Bill Brittain - Hamblen County
Jake Bynum - Weakley County
Wayne Ellington - Williamson County
Jerry Faulkner - Sumner County/Blount County
Nick Grabar - Sullivan County
Troy Grant - Wilson County
David Gregory - Sumner County
Samantha Gutter - Davidson County
Tracy Hall - Shelby County
Cissy Holt - Giles County
Janet Jentilet - Knox County
Laura Monks - Lincoln County
Fran Odom - Shelby County
DeJuan Parker - Shelby County
Misty Rosser-White - Shelby County
Robin Sealy - Tipton County
Zach Sheets - Campbell County
Jayme Simmons - Davidson County
Marvin Stewart - Jefferson County
Paul Stumb - Wilson County
Glenn Swift - Knox County/Campbell County
Danni Varlan - Knox County
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Linda Barclay – Obion County
John Becker – Knox County
Marlin Curnutt – Grainger County
Beth Duggar – Marion County
Brittany Ford – Knox County
Kris Frye – Loudon County
Steven Gentile – Davidson County
Michael Harrison – Sumner County
Carissa Hoitenga – Shelby County
Lesli Lee – Shelby County
James Mantooth – Weakley County
Dana Peterka – Roane County
Yvonne Schlangen – Dickson County
Avery Swinson – Hamblen County
Leigh Anne Touzeau – Knox County
Dennis Tumlin – Rhea County
Patrick Wade – Rutherford County
Christopher Whaley – Roane County
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Terry Bubb - Sumner County
Walden Buttram - Knox County
Michael Dote - Shelby County
Melody Edmonds - Coffee County
Les Fout - Knox County
Loretta Griffy - Montgomery County
Holly Hanson - Cumberland County
Jerry Hendrix - Rhea County
Kirk Hunnicutt - Wilson County
Dean MaKinster - Shelby County
Stephanie Mascolo - Shelby County
Gisela Moore - Davidson County
Cathy Moran - Putnam County
Debbie Petree - Anderson County
Alex Rom-Roginski - Hamblen County
Mark Swientoniewski - Knox County
CONTACT US
CONTACT US
Have questions or need help? Baylor Atkins serves as the Director of Mentors and would love to help!