At Kairos, we know that a great education is about more than just academics—it’s about relationships. Our teachers and mentors don’t just deliver lessons; they invest in students, challenge them, and advocate for them. They build the kind of trust that makes school a place where kids feel seen, supported, and excited to grow.
As I talk with our families, I hear again and again how much this approach is changing lives. Parents tell me about teachers who notice when a student is struggling and step in before they fall behind. About mentors who make school feel safe for kids who have never felt comfortable in a classroom. About educators who push students to take risks, try new things, and discover strengths they never knew they had.
Lisa Donahue’s child, Juno, felt school-related anxiety. For many kids, that kind of stress can make school feel impossible. But at Kairos, Juno has a mentor, Emi—one of our science teachers—who has completely reshaped their relationship with school.
“Emi isn’t just a mentor–she’s an advocate,” Lisa says. “She models how to ask for what you need, then steps back and encourages Juno to do it. She’s always there, always responsive, and never lets things fall through the cracks.”
For Lisa, the impact of that kind of support goes beyond grades. “Juno goes to school knowing there’s a person on their side, no matter what. As a parent, that feels extraordinary. I never had that in school. It’s made Juno more comfortable with adults, more confident. That’s my favorite thing about Kairos–Emi as a mentor.”
Lisa loves seeing Juno’s progress reflected not just in grades, but in the personal updates she gets from teachers. “I check into Gradient all the time because it's so much fun to see what Juno’s learning. But it’s the moments beyond that–when a teacher stops me at a PTA meeting and says, ‘Juno can write!’–that really stick with me. Emi’s always talking about how hard Juno works and how far they’ve come.”
More Than Academics–A Team That Has Your Back
For Kate Makela’s daughter, Mackenzie, math had always been a struggle. Without the right support, her confidence and engagement in school were slipping. But that all changed when she met her math teacher, Caleb Johnson.
“Caleb has been unbelievable,” Kate says. “I shared my concerns, and he said, ‘I’ve got it–don’t worry.’ And my kid comes home with a B in algebra–her first time ever doing well in math.”
It wasn’t just about getting the grade–it was about Mackenzie knowing she had someone in her corner. “He makes a point of walking past her desk when he senses she might need support. I’m not really sure what he does–but he has built up that relationship with her so quickly that he knows exactly when to step in.”
Beyond individual teachers, Mackenzie’s mentor, Maria Garcia, has made sure she never falls through the cracks. “Maria fights tooth and nail for Mackenzie. When she fell behind, Maria went to her teachers and said, ‘What can we do to help her catch up?’ She worked with Mackenzie during advisory, checked in with her math teacher–just knowing that there’s another person advocating for her makes all the difference.”
Now, Kate sees a transformation in her daughter. “If I hadn't found Kairos, I don’t know where Mackenzie would be. I think I’d be concentrating on supporting her immediate mental health rather than her future. But now? She has a future–an educational future. She’s thriving, she’s excited, she’s making new friends. She’s becoming a leader.”
Teachers Who Go the Extra Mile
Maria, who serves as both a Spanish teacher and a mentor, sees mentorship as a team effort. She constantly checks in with other teachers to see how her students are doing and what support they might need.
“I try to have a strong relationship with my students so they feel–and know–that I care for them,” she says. “Yes, I’m going to be on their back when their work isn’t done, but I’m also going to celebrate them. I think that’s something they appreciate a lot.”
Maria also makes sure parents feel connected to their child’s education. “I know parents have access to PowerSchool and Gradient, but I think it brings them a lot of comfort to know a human being is talking to them. I like to text them a quick update–it makes staying in touch with school easier.”
And sometimes, being a mentor just means being there to listen. “I always ask my students, ‘What’s something you want to tell me?’ Just giving them that space to open up is powerful. Sometimes, it’s as simple as listening when a student says life is stressful. I may not know what’s happening at home, but I do know that just listening can be really helpful.”
Helping Students Find Their Strengths
For Madison Hausdorf, Kairos’ theater teacher, building relationships is about finding what makes students light up.
“We see our students as they are, and I get this lovely little place in the theater world where I can put them in roles where I know they’ll shine,” Madison says.
She’s always nudging students, like Mackenzie, outside their comfort zones–but in a way that feels safe. “Sometimes it’s coaxing, but other times, I’ll just say, ‘Hey, I’m going to put you in this role. Try it out. If you don’t like it, you never have to do it again, but let’s give it a shot.’ That’s usually how I get students to try something new.” This year Mackenzie is trying her hand at designing and making costumes for the school play.
For Madison, teacher investment is everything. “They always say you can’t care more than the kids care. I do. Because that investment gets kids to school every day. If none of our teachers were invested in our kids and maintaining relationships, they wouldn’t come to school. We are so invested in our students and their lives, and those kids who latch onto us–their lives are changed forever.”
Why It Matters
Stories like these remind me why our approach is so important. Kairos isn’t just about coursework or test scores. It’s about relationships. It’s about students knowing they have people in their corner–mentors who won’t let them slip through the cracks, teachers who push them because they believe in them, and a school that makes sure no student has to navigate their journey alone.
For parents like Lisa and Kate, that’s not just a bonus–it’s the reason their kids are thriving. And for the teachers and mentors at Kairos, it’s the reason they show up every day, ready to make a difference.
But we’re not stopping here. We’re constantly asking what we can do to ensure every student has a transformational experience. As we plan for the upcoming school year, families can look forward to more details about how Kairos will raise the bar for student support by putting our resources where they have the greatest impact: in excellent teachers for every classroom.