The Palmetto Education Summit 2026

Young people are surrounded by adults every day—teachers, coaches, administrators, bus drivers, parents, and community members—yet many students still struggle to find the consistent encouragement and guidance they need to thrive. Schools often think of mentoring as a formal role assigned to a small number of people, but the reality is that mentoring happens in everyday interactions. The challenge is not a lack of caring adults—it is the absence of a shared framework and practical tools that help people recognize and use their influence intentionally. This session explores the idea that everyone in a school community has the potential to be a mentor. Participants will examine how everyday interactions can become meaningful mentoring moments that help students develop confidence, resilience, and direction. The session also highlights the importance of structured mentoring frameworks and tools that help schools and communities move from good intentions to consistent, meaningful support for young people. Participants will be introduced to mentoring strategies drawn from youth development research and practical mentoring models such as the GOODLIFE mentoring framework, which provides tools and structured conversations that help mentors guide students toward stronger decision-making, relationships, and future direction. The session will also highlight how schools can expand their impact by engaging families and community partners in mentoring efforts. This workshop is being proposed as a collaborative session with Real Champions, Inc., a South Carolina organization dedicated to empowering young people through mentorship and leadership development. Together, the presenters will explore how schools and community partners can work side-by-side to create stronger mentoring networks around students. Participants leave with a clearer understanding of the power of mentoring, practical tools they can use immediately, and ideas for building mentoring partnerships that strengthen support for students both inside and outside the classroom. Participants will gain a deeper understanding of the role every adult can play as a mentor, practical strategies for building meaningful mentoring relationships with students, exposure to structured mentoring tools and frameworks that help guide conversations and student growth, ideas for engaging community organizations and volunteers in mentoring, and examples of how schools and community partners can work together to create mentoring networks that support students.