Illinois Green Schools Project
Mentor Info & Registration
Registration for the 2025-26 Cohort will be open July 7 - July 25
What is a Green Schools Mentor?
A Green Schools Mentor in the Illinois Green Schools Project is a volunteer with a passion for decarbonizing existing buildings and sharing their professional expertise. Green Schools Mentors are matched with schools participating in the Illinois Green Schools Project, to help them investigate, plan, and implement a yearlong sustainability initiative. Mentors play a vital role in reviewing and completing the
IGSP Sustainability Workbook in Stage One of the program, and check in regularly through Stage Two to support implementation. Green Schools Mentors should have experience in sustainability and/or green building, and typically have professional backgrounds in architecture, engineering, sustainability consulting, design, building, and more.
*You must be an Illinois Green Alliance member to volunteer
How it Works
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1. Application & PairingList Item 1
In the Mentor Application Form, volunteers can describe their specific sustainability background and interest in decarbonization. Each school is assigned a Green Schools Mentor based on location and meeting preferences. You can also request or be requested by a specific school through the form.
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2. Meet Your SchoolList Item 2
Once a mentor has been assigned a school, Illinois Green Alliance staff will organize a meeting between the mentor and the Green Team Leader (the point of contact with the school). During this meeting, we urge mentors and Green Team Leaders to work together to establish a communication and meeting system that works for them. Discuss how frequently you'd like to meet, create some goals and deadlines to keep you on track, and confirm preferred forms of contact.
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3. Work Through the IGSP WorkbookList Item 3
Mentors help to navigate the workbook where help is needed! Mentors can help to bring stakeholders to the table for discussion, assist in completing the walk-through chapter, and help to brainstorm what project fit’s best with your school’s current needs. Staff will be on hand to send reminders and offer resources and support, but we allow Green Teams to create their own vision and timeline.
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4. Support Project Implementation
Schools spend roughly four months realizing their project outlines. Mentors check in regularly to help the green team stay on schedule, pursue local partnerships, and potentially visit the school to assist or share career advice with students.
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4. End of Year Celebration!List Item 4
Mentors are invited to attend the end of year recognition ceremony, the Illinois Green Schools Celebration. Project participants gather virtually to celebrate their accomplishments. Schools that won awards for their projects will be invited to showcase their work!
IGSP Mentors can help in many ways!
Mentors provide guidance and support including but not limited to:
- Assisting in bringing stakeholders to the table for self-assessment discussions.
- Assisting in the completion of the IGSP Sustainability Workbook (defining terms, providing context, etc.)
- Visiting their school in person for an audit or walkthrough.
- Supporting the creation of a project outline that identifies opportunities and low hanging solutions to get a school started on their sustainability journey.
- Researching and identifying useful resources for project outlines.
- Educating their school about benchmarking and how to track and document their achievements.
- Helping the team to communicate their goals and accomplishments to the school and broader community.
- Brainstorming funding opportunities unique to each school.
Commitments and Responsibilities
Description of Volunteer Role:
The primary role of a Green Schools Mentor is to guide and assist an assigned school through the IGSP Sustainability Workbook and provide guidance, resources, and encouragement to their green team as they implement their chosen sustainability project.
Time Commitment:
Schools will work at their own pace to complete each chapter of the
IGSP Sustainability Workbook, from October - January 31st. During this time (approximately 3 months), a mentor and school should meet semi regularly to address the school's needs for assistance and planning support. Once the workbook is completed, the mentor and paired school may communicate any interest and availability for continued support as the school advances to implementation and promotion stages of the program, from February to May. We estimate that volunteers spend 2-5 hours working with their school each month. Interactions with schools take a variety of forms including phone, email, video conferencing and in-person meetings.
A Green Schools Mentor:
- Attends the mentor orientation, meet-ups (virtual and possibly in person) with assigned school, and the end of year virtual celebration.
- Establishes a system for communication & meetings with their Green Team Leader.
- Provides guidance for connecting with a diverse team of stakeholders to collectively gain information and make decisions for the school to move forward.
- Provides support and expertise in understanding the questions and context of the self-assessment and walkthrough documents.
- Stays connected to Illinois Green Alliance to share updates.
Staff Support
Illinois Green is here to make sure that you have an impactful and rewarding volunteer experience. Green Schools Mentors can reach out by phone or email at any time for help communicating with their school, finding resources for their project, or any general troubleshooting needs.
IGSP MENTOR APPLICATION OPENS JULY 7
Check back here in July to access the application for the 2025-26 IGSP Volunteer Mentor Position!
