Schools can connect a student with Blackburn Mentoring by suggesting it to the family. The family completes a five-minute assessment or calls (888) 305 5422, our team reviews it and holds a free intro call, and the student is matched with one dedicated mentor. With written permission from the family, or from the student if they are an adult, the mentor shares progress with the school staff member who referred them.
What outside mentoring adds for a student
School staff see the same pattern every year: a capable student who is slipping because of structure, not ability. Assignments go missing, the planner stays empty, emails to teachers never get sent. A counselor or advisor can help in short meetings, but nobody at school can check in with that student several times a week.
That is the gap a mentor fills. A Blackburn mentor works one-on-one with the student, sets goals with them, breaks those goals into weekly steps and meets weekly or several times a week, with text and phone contact between sessions. The work is practical: routines, planning the week, following up with teachers, getting through the to-do list the school has already laid out. Read more about executive function skills and teen self-advocacy, two areas that come up often.
Students who may be a good fit
- Students whose grades are slipping because of missed work, not missing understanding (see when a teenager is failing classes)
- Students who struggle to plan, start and finish work on their own
- Students heading into a big change, such as freshman year, junior year or the move to college
- Students who need help speaking up for themselves with teachers and staff
- Families who want a steady, outside person checking in between school days
How a school connects a family
There is nothing for the school to sign up for. A referral is a recommendation to the family, and the family decides what happens next.
- Mention it to the family. Share this page or our phone number, (888) 305 5422, in a conference, email or call.
- The family reaches out. They complete the five-minute assessment or call us. Let them know they can mention who suggested it.
- Intro call. Our team reviews the assessment personally and sets up a free intro call. For high school students, a parent or guardian is always on that call and helps agree the goals.
- Matching. The student is matched with one dedicated mentor.
- Coordination, with permission. If the family gives written permission, the mentor shares progress with you and coordinates so the student hears one consistent plan.
Follow your own school’s policies on sharing student information. The simplest path is to let the family make contact themselves and decide what to share. The full walkthrough is on our refer a student page.
What mentors are not
A mentor works alongside the people already supporting a student, never in place of them. To be clear about the role:
- Teaching stays with teachers. A mentor does not reteach lessons or help with the material itself; if a student is lost in the content, a teacher or tutor is the right call.
- College and school applications stay with counselors. Mentors give no advice on lists, essays or admissions strategy.
- Clinical care stays with licensed professionals. Mentors do not diagnose, treat or offer therapy.
- Formal processes stay with the family and school team. Mentors do not speak for families at IEP or 504 meetings or in disputes.
If a student needs academic help, accommodations or clinical support, the right school or outside professional handles that. The mentor helps the student keep up with the plan those professionals set. Our guides on mentor vs tutor and academic support options explain the differences for families.
Where and how mentoring happens
Mentoring is one student and one mentor. It is not a classroom or group program. Sessions are 30 or 60 minutes by video anywhere in the United States, scheduled in the family’s local time zone, and in person in Los Angeles. Plans are weekly or monthly, and rates are reviewed with the family on the free intro call.
Where a mentor helps
The mentor’s job is to make the school’s plan easier to follow at home. Parents get regular progress updates, the student has someone in their corner every week, and staff who are included can see whether the weekly steps are happening. See mentoring for high school students, information for school counselors and information for independent schools.
Related
Common questions
Does the school need an agreement with Blackburn Mentoring?
No. A referral is simply a recommendation to the family. The family contacts us, and mentoring is arranged with them.
Will the mentor share updates with the school?
Only with written permission from the family, or from the student if they are 18 or older. With that permission, the mentor shares progress with the staff member who referred them.
Do mentors tutor or help with college applications?
No. Mentors are not tutors or admissions counselors. They help with structure, routines and follow-through, and work alongside the teachers and counselors already involved.
Can students outside Los Angeles take part?
Yes. Mentoring happens by video anywhere in the United States, and students in Los Angeles can also meet in person.
Get started
Thinking of a student who could use a mentor? Call (888) 305 5422, email contact@blackburnmentoring.com or start with a short assessment. A member of our team reviews every assessment personally and sets up a free intro call.