Yes. Families, students and young adults anywhere in Kansas can work with a dedicated Blackburn mentor by video. Nearly all of Kansas is on Central time, while a few western counties along the Colorado border use Mountain time. Our team is in Los Angeles, and we book every session in your local time so nobody has to convert.
Wide open, and that matters
Kansas runs more than 400 miles from the Missouri line to Colorado, and the population thins out as you go west. Eastern Kansas has suburbs and small cities; western Kansas has wheat fields, feedlots and towns that can be well over an hour apart. For a family in Hays, Garden City or Colby, finding a consistent mentor nearby is hard. Video makes the distance irrelevant.
Kansas by region
- Kansas City suburbs: Overland Park, Olathe, Leawood, Lenexa and the rest of Johnson County, plus Wyandotte County.
- Wichita and south central Kansas: the state’s largest city and its surrounding towns.
- Northeast Kansas: Topeka, the capital, and Lawrence.
- The Flint Hills and central Kansas: Manhattan, Salina, Emporia and tallgrass prairie.
- Western Kansas: Dodge City, Garden City, Liberal, Hays and the High Plains.
What Kansas does for work
Wichita has long been an aviation manufacturing center, building aircraft and parts for companies around the world. Agriculture defines much of the state, especially wheat, cattle and sorghum, and southwest Kansas has major meatpacking operations. Oil, natural gas and a fast-growing wind industry add energy jobs. The Kansas City suburbs bring corporate offices, technology, health care and professional services. Fort Riley and Fort Leavenworth add a significant military presence.
For a young person, that can mean choosing between a skilled trade with a clear path, a professional career in the city, or something entirely different out of state. A mentor helps sort the options with real information.
The education landscape in general terms
Kansas has a large number of public school districts, from big suburban systems in Johnson County and Wichita to small rural districts in the west. Catholic and other private schools are common in the larger cities. After high school, students choose among the state’s public universities, a network of community colleges and technical colleges, and private colleges. Many stay in Kansas; others cross into Missouri, Colorado, Oklahoma or Nebraska, and Kansas campuses draw students from those states in return.
Who we work with in Kansas
High school students and their parents
Weekly planning, homework routines, motivation and a plan for after graduation, with parents involved from the start. See mentoring for high school students.
College and technical college students
Time management, attendance, money and the adjustment to living away from home. See mentoring for college students.
Young adults and professionals
Moving out, landing or changing a job, building savings and routines. See young adult mentoring and career and education mentoring.
Pages for areas in Kansas
Kansas has two area pages: online mentoring in Kansas City, which covers Johnson County and the Kansas side of the metro, and online mentoring in Wichita. Families in far western Kansas may also look at Colorado Springs or Denver and Boulder. For anywhere else, see how online mentoring works and mentoring by state.
How it works with a Kansas family
Mentors are not tutors, therapists or admissions counselors. They are one steady person who meets 30 or 60 minutes by video, weekly or more often, checks in between sessions and, with permission, keeps parents updated. Mentoring for families covers the parent side.
Related
- Online mentoring in Wichita
- Online mentoring in Kansas City
- Trade school vs college
- A teen’s first job
Common questions
Which time zone do you use for Kansas?
Central time for almost everyone in Kansas. If you live in one of the few western counties on Mountain time, we schedule in Mountain time instead.
We live in Johnson County. Is that the Kansas City page or this one?
Either one. Our Kansas City page covers both sides of the state line, and the way we work is the same: everything is by video.
Can a mentor help a teen who wants to go into a trade?
Yes. Mentors help young people research trades, technical programs and apprenticeships, then follow through on applications and next steps.
Get started
Want to talk about someone in Kansas 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.