Blackburn Mentoring gives students in Sierra Madre and Monrovia one dedicated mentor who helps them plan the week, build routines and follow through, by video or in person in Los Angeles. Parents of high school students can join the free 20 minute intro call and get regular updates. Mentors do not tutor or promise outcomes; they help students build the habits that make school and the step after it work.
Two foothill towns, two school districts
Sierra Madre is part of the Pasadena Unified School District, which enrolled 14,158 students in 2025 to 2026 and also serves Pasadena and Altadena, while Monrovia runs its own, smaller Monrovia Unified School District, with 4,699 students (Ed-Data). That means neighboring students can have different school calendars, commutes and options. We also work with students at independent and parochial schools.
According to the U.S. Census Bureau, 64.0% of Sierra Madre adults 25 and older hold a bachelor’s degree or higher, and in Monrovia the figure is 42.7%, compared with 36.0% across Los Angeles County; 21.7% of Monrovia residents are under 18 (American Community Survey, 2020 to 2024).
What students here bring to a mentor
- A small town feel and a big workload. Students who are known by everyone can feel they cannot slip. A mentor offers a private, steady place to plan and recover.
- Commuting to school. Students crossing district lines or heading toward Pasadena need routines that survive a longer day.
- Executive function skills. Starting, planning and finishing, with executive function coaching built into the week.
- Junior and senior year. A to G requirements, course choices and a calendar of deadlines. See the junior year guide.
- College students living at home. A semester plan and a transfer timeline. See transfer student mentoring.
Getting around the foothills
Monrovia has a Metro A Line station, which connects students to Pasadena and downtown Los Angeles without a car, while Sierra Madre is quieter and more dependent on rides. A mentor can turn either situation into practice with independence: planning trips, managing time and handling commitments on their own.
In person or by video
Our team is based in Los Angeles. Many foothill families use video on school nights and meet in person in Los Angeles when it helps, at a convenient, appropriate place agreed on the intro call. Mentors stay reachable by text and phone between sessions.
How to start
- Take a short assessment. Tell us about your student and the goals. It takes about five minutes.
- Have a free 20 minute intro call. For high school students, a parent is welcome to join. We talk through fit, schedule and how your student would meet.
- Meet the mentor. New clients are matched with one mentor within two business days.
- Start the plan. 60 minute sessions, weekly or several times a week, with text and phone check ins between them.
Related
- Mentoring in Pasadena and San Marino
- Mentoring in Arcadia
- Mentoring in Temple City
- Mentoring in the San Gabriel Valley
- Mentoring for high school students
- All Los Angeles County areas
- Mentoring in Glendora, San Dimas and La Verne
Common questions
Do you serve both Sierra Madre and Monrovia?
Yes, and nearby foothill communities, by video or in person in Los Angeles.
My student is in Pasadena Unified. Does that matter?
No. The mentor builds the plan around your student’s own school, calendar and commute.
Is this tutoring?
No. Mentors help with planning, routines, follow through and confidence, and can work alongside a tutor.
How fast can we start?
After the free 20 minute intro call, new clients are matched with a mentor within two business days.
Get started
Looking for a mentor for a student in Sierra Madre or Monrovia? 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 20 minute intro call.
Free, by video, 20 minutes, with a member of our team. Weekdays 9 to 5 Pacific.