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.

I am a…

Access Mentor
Workforce Mentor

Access Mentors

Access Mentor Workbook
Access Mentor Portal

Access Mentors: Determining College Choice

This video provides an overview of the types of institutions students can attend, what they can expect from those colleges and how to support your students during that process.

Access Mentors: FAFSA Filing

In this video, the tnAchieves team shares simple ways mentors can support students during the FAFSA process, answer common questions, and help ensure students stay on track for financial aid.

Access Mentors: Understanding The Admissions Process

The admissions process is an important step in beginning a college career anywhere! Int his webinar, we highlight steps needed to succeed when starting a post-secondary career!

Access Mentors: tnAchieves Summer Programs

tnAchieves offers programs to help students jump start their college careers. Learn more about how mentors can encourage summer program participation in this webinar!

Access Mentor Milestones & Student Information Sheet

    • 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.

  • 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.

  • 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.

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

Workforce Mentor Workbook
Workforce Mentor Portal

Workforce Mentors: Determining Student's Post Graduation Plans

This video walks tnAchieves workforce mentors through how to support students in planning their next steps after college graduation!

Workforce Mentors: Career Exploration

In this video, we walk tnAchieves Workforce Mentors through several tools they can use with their students to explore different careers!

Workforce Mentors: Resume Building

Resumes are a critical component of any successful career search. This webinar shares best practices and tips for building an effective resume!

Workforce Mentors: Interview Tips

Understanding how to present your strengths and skills is an important step in the interview process. This webinar shares guidance from industry professionals on effective interview skills!

Workforce Mentor Timeline & Activity Pages

    • 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.

  • 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.

  • 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.

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

    • 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

    • 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

    • 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

    • 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!

Email Baylor