2026 ISBE Career Connections Conference

For the past three years, the Redbird Educator Scholars Program at Illinois State University has strengthened the educator pipeline by preparing future teachers through peer mentorship, a sense of belonging, and early leadership development. The program pairs incoming teacher education majors with trained sophomore mentors who support their transition into the college environment and help them engage in their academic pathway. As mentors gain leadership experience, scholars demonstrate stronger academic confidence, greater engagement in their major, and a clearer sense of identity as future educators. This session will share successful experiences and examples of positive student outcomes observed within the program, offering practical ideas for how high schools and teacher preparation partners can support students who are interested in pursuing education as a college and career pathway.