Jim Bennett
Role within Lincoln TeamMates:
As Coordinator of the largest chapter of TeamMates, I strive to bring my 25+ years of experience in youth work to serve my talented staff and over 1,200 paired students and volunteers across Lincoln. I make it a point to attend every new mentor training to hear the stories of volunteer mentors who join in the important work of empowering youth. I know the difference they will make.
Top Five Gallup Strengths:
- Positivity
- Analytical
- Relator
- Harmony
- Developer
Who was your mentor? What lessons they taught stuck with you?
Dr. Richard Krause, a principal at the Pathfinder Education Program, saw something in me and brought me over to the side of education and helped to shape me as a professional. He allowed me the freedom to explore creative ideas and those ideas eventually resulted in my current passion for TeamMates Mentoring Program. It was Dr. Krause who helped me understand that when you make a program decision, to always ask “is this good for kids?” If the answer is “yes”, then you can live with that decision no matter the challenges that arise.
What is one of your favorite memories of your own TeamMates match?
Watching my two mentees transition from middle school to high school and seeing their growth and maturity, their preparedness for next steps.