Katy ISD’s Partners in Education Department invites past and potential student mentors to the upcoming KEYS (Keep Encouraging Youth toward Success) kickoff event, set for September 25 from 8 to 10 a.m. at the Merrell Center, 6301 S. Stadium Lane in Katy.

KEYS Kickoff is Katy ISD’s largest mentoring event of the year, welcoming current, new and prospective mentors. Come hear mentor stories, connect with others and learn more about KEYS Mentoring and the difference one hour a week can make in a student’s life.

The “Road to Impact” program will feature inspiring stories from mentors, including how their journeys began, the relationships they built, and the impact they made. It will also include breakout sessions for support and roundtable discussions with experienced mentors.

The breakout sessions include:

· Starting Your Journey (for all new and prospective mentors): Learn what you need to know to begin your mentoring journey.

· Navigating Challenges (for all current KEYS mentors): Gain tools to support mentees through life’s challenges.

· Building Pathways (for all KEYS liaisons): Practical strategies to strengthen and support your campus KEYS program.


RSVP at https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSdJYqciUZYo_UXE5Oj5dNqnSAvQpvzEeCB4FpZMfILl6exR0A/viewform.


Offered at every campus at every grade level, the KEYS Mentor Program’s primary focus is on relationship building, rather than tutoring. Teachers, counselors and school administrators identify students who are good candidates for the program, while Katy ISD Partners in Education recruits mentors from the community.


KEYS mentors come from varied backgrounds, experiences and age groups. Each has a heart for students and a willingness to volunteer. Each KEYS mentor must make a one school year commitment to the program, apply and pass the same criminal background check used for Katy ISD employees and attend a campus orientation. Mentors are placed with a student by the KEYS campus liaison who will support and supervise the relationship. Mentors and their mentees meet each week on campus in an open, monitored environment such as the library.