Ladders of Opportunity
From parent mentor to paraprofessional — and beyond!
Ladders of Opportunity recognizes and rewards the lived experience of Parent Mentors while meeting Illinois schools’ need for an experienced, culturally competent workforce.
Illinois has more than 2,400 unfilled paraprofessional positions statewide. Schools need qualified support staff, and Parent Mentors already have the classroom experience, community trust, and relationships that make great school employees.
Our Ladders of Opportunity coaches have helped nearly 1,000 parent mentors in earning Illinois State Board of Education credentials since 23 school year. Many now work as Special Education Classroom Assistants and/or Bilingual Assistants, in classrooms, while while others continue their education and are on pathways to become teachers, administrators and other school leaders.
Ladders Prepares parents to work in education
After spending 100+ hours working alongside teachers, many Parent Mentors want to keep growing. Ladders of Opportunity makes that possible. Through Ladders:
Parent Mentors receive individualized coaching, navigation support, and access to resources they need to earn an Illinois state educator license (ISBE credential) and connect to job opportunities in schools.
Schools and school districts fill essential roles for paraprofessionals, special education classroom assistants, substitutes, and more—with candidates who reflect their school communities and bring classroom-based experience.
Interested in learning more about how Ladders works? Find out more on our Stories and Data page.
Are you a Parent Mentor interested in learning more about Ladders of Opportunity? Find out more about how to advance your education career on our Join page.