Mentor Select: Parenting Teens To Be Successful Adults

Mentor Select serves as an invaluable resource for parents who are raising teenagers. Each week I interview leading experts who share practical tips, strategies, and resources that parents can use to empower their teens to be successful adults.

The creator and executive producer of Truth in Comedy Byron shares how he transitioned from teaching high school algebra to becoming a stand-up comedian. Byron is a comedian, entrepreneur, and a 3-time teacher of the year award recipient.

Kendyll Locke is a 16-year-old marketing strategist and business owner. He has been an entrepreneur since age 14, officially launching his business KD Socialhouse Maintenance in 2017. In this interview, Kendyll shares how he balances everything and maximizes his impact. He provides practical tips that you can apply today to become more efficient and effective.

Dawn is a Clinical Assistant Professor at the University of Texas at Dallas. She works in the Jindal School of Management teaching various Information Systems courses. She is also the Program Director for their Undergraduate degree program titled Information Technology and Systems. Her most recent accomplishments include the creation of the ITS Academy which focusses on conducting events for current and prospective ITS students. Under her guidance, the school organized the 2nd Edition of the ITS Exploratory Summer Camp for High Schoolers and the 1st ever STEM Symposium for Middle School Girls. She has also been the driving force in changing the ITS Degree Program to a STEM designated degree and updating the curriculum to include more technical rigor for students. She was also instrumental in implementing the AIS and Women In Technology Student Chapters on campus for the undergraduate ITS students, apart from being the Faculty Advisor for a Toastmasters Club in JSOM.

Lancaster ISD Elementary School Teacher of the Year 2018-19, Traci M. Thompson is a native of South Dallas, Texas. She is a graduate of Lincoln High School and received her Undergraduate Degree from HBCU, Texas College in Tyler, Texas. She is also a member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority Incorporated. This mother of three is passionate about her family, community and teaching.

An innovative, connected teacher with a high-class teaching style when serving her students. She has chosen to target students and schools that have been labeled ??? (what have they been labeled) due to their socioeconomic status. Reaching these students and grasping the attention of their parents has been impactful.