Mentors of Tomorrow is a group of four seniors and a junior at Bartlett High School who regularly visit Spring Trail and Sycamore Trails elementary schools and Eastview Middle School, providing assistance on homework and organizing fun, learning-promoting activities. Started three years ago by the current Mentors’ president, Rohan Shah, the group has recruited approximately 30 new mentors this year while expanding its reach from two to three schools. Mentors of Tomorrow has served an estimated 80 to 100 students in that time.

The members of Mentors hope their program can provide a model for other high schools to assemble their own Mentors groups, with the goal of serving schools throughout the area. “The work these students do is inspiring,” says Teacher Vito Selvaggio.

Members of Mentors for Tomorrow are Rohan Shah, Rushi Patel, Harsh Chheda, Aayush Patel and Sareena Shah

Nominated by: Teacher, Vito Selvaggio

The co-chair of the trauma-informed care A-Team for the Alignment Collaborative for Education, Kristine Argue-Mason joined the team with a conviction to bring to the community and educators a deeper awareness of the adverse childhood experiences that children within U-46 endure and how those experience affect health and learning. 

Kristine has trained the more than 180 staff members of the District’s 26 School Resiliency Teams and community members as well. In addition, she is the director of training for the Illinois Education Association, and, says Director of School Safety & Culture, John Heiderscheidt, “her work that directly serves us here at U-46 goes far above and beyond her normal work scope and the sequence of her everyday activities.

“I have been honored,” Heiderscheidt said, “to work alongside her.”

Nominated by: Director of School Safety & Culture, John Heiderscheidt