Omaha Public Schools TeamMates

09/02/2026

We sure missed our mentoring over the summer.
Now that school is back in, let's get back to our weekly meeting times. You should hear from your Building Coordinator soon to set up times. Feel free to reach out if you haven't heard from them after next week.

Burke High School hosted a TeamMates Mentoring Program kickoff breakfast this morning!

Let us know if your school hosts any kind of TeamMates kickoff. We'd love to be part of it.

08/26/2026

Part 4 of 4: Beyond the Script 💡

⏰ DAY 4: Throw Away the Script. We've been talking this week about questions that spark meaningful conversations and deepen the mentor/mentee relationship. For our final part of the series, we use the question that skips the 'weekly greeting script' they've rehearsed. Here is Question 4...

4) ​Did anything surprise you?

​This question works because kids don't expect it. It skips past the script they've rehearsed on their way from their classroom.

​The mentee said, "Yeah, Mrs. Patterson cried during read aloud." That turned into a 20 minute conversation about empathy.

From a girl who usually gives one word answers.

​💬 To tie up our series: Connection starts with asking the right questions—and having the patience to listen.
Which of these 4 questions are you going to try with your mentee when you see them? Let us know in the comments below!

​💡 Inspiration credit:

08/25/2026

Part 3 of 4: Empowering Solutions 🌟

⏰ DAY 3: Using Trust to Empower. Yesterday we learned how hard 'trust' can be. Today, we focus on helping a child find their own solution to a problem. Here is Question 3...

3) What was the hardest part of today?

He said gym class. Why? He said a kid told him he runs weird.

The boy and his mentor practiced running in the gym. Just them. No pressure.

The next week they met and he said, "I was fastest today."
He didn't need his mentor to fix it. He needed them to know about it.

Resisting the urge to fix things isn't easy—listening is a skill that takes intentional practice.
To all the mentors and parents out there: what’s your go-to strategy for staying in 'listening mode'?

​👇 Coming Tomorrow: The Finale (Part 4). Sometimes the most powerful conversations are the ones you don't see coming. We wrap up the series with a question that breaks the usual script and opened a deep, 20-minute discussion about empathy with a girl who usually gives one-word answers. You won’t want to miss how we end this series.

​💡 Inspiration credit:

08/24/2026

Part 2 of 4: A Hard Truth 💔

​⏰ DAY 2: Following Up on Connection. Yesterday, we learned that laughter is a door. But sometimes the answer you get isn't funny. If laughter is a door, trust is the key. Here is Question 2...

2) Who did you sit with at lunch?

This one is heart breaking. He said "nobody".

A call to his Building Coordinator the next morning reveals that three boys had been excluding him for weeks.

As a TeamMates mentor, we are there to listen.

He never would have mentioned this if the only question asked, "How was school?"

How would you respond to this situation?

​

​👇 Coming Tomorrow in Part 3: Sometimes, it’s not about finding a deep secret. It’s about a simple, surface-level struggle that feels like the end of the world to a child. Learn the third question we used to help them find their power.

​💡 Inspiration credit:

08/23/2026

Part 1 of 4: Unlocking Real Conversations 🔑

​"Fine" is a wall. Laughter is a door.

​If you are tired of getting one-word answers when you ask your TeamMates mentee about their day, try this:

​1) What made you laugh today?

​One child told a story of a kid who sneezed milk out of his nose at lunch. Then he talked about the math test he failed. Then he said his best friend said something mean at recess.

​All from one question.

What are some questions you ask your mentee?

​👉 Stay tuned for Part 2 tomorrow! We’ll share a question that uncovered a child who was secretly struggling—and how it changed everything.

​💡 Inspiration credit:

08/18/2026

Every person in this photo holds up more than a shirt—they hold up a promise to empower OPS students.

👏 Huge thanks to our outgoing Board President, Mitzi Ritzman, for her years of dedicated service to OPS TeamMates.
We are so excited to welcome Marshall Dean as our new Board President.

Get to know your OPS TeamMates Mentoring Board members 👇

08/06/2026

The new school year begins soon, and now is the perfect time to become a TeamMates mentor. Mentors are needed for boys and girls of every age, and applying now gives you time to complete the process before students are matched. If you've been thinking about mentoring, don't wait—apply today and be ready to make a difference when the school year begins! https://teammates.org/be-a-mentor/apply/

08/05/2026

Join us on Saturday at Lauritzen Gardens!

Back to school season is here and we're celebrating young minds with a special event in Sofia's Play Garden! Gear up for class this Saturday, August 8, with a free drop-in program from 10 a.m. to noon. featuring fun back-to-school activities from Omaha Public Schools TeamMates and Completely KIDS and a special presentation from Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Midlands. Plus, don't miss the chance to decorate your own pencil bag in the Crafting Nook!

This event is included with garden admission or membership. No registration is required.

08/04/2026

One caring adult can change the course of a young person's life. Across our community, boys and girls of every age are waiting for a mentor who will listen, encourage, and believe in them. Your friendship can help build confidence, create hope, and remind a student they're never alone. Apply today and be ready to begin meeting with your TeamMate this August. https://teammates.org/be-a-mentor/apply/