TeamMates of LPS is a school-based, one-to-one mentoring program that matches adult mentors with students who are at risk of academic failure for one or more of the following reasons: poor academic performance, poor attendance, difficulty with peer relationships, discipline issues, and personal issues. The program was founded in 1991 through a partnership between Dr. Tom Osborne and Nancy Osborne and the Lincoln Public Schools. Fifteen years later, TeamMates of LPS is a successful template for other communities as the statewide TeamMates Mentoring Program continues to grow.

Adults are asked to volunteer as a mentor for one hour a week for no less than one school year with the goal of following the student through high school graduation. Each school in LPS has identified a TeamMates facilitator who works closely with TeamMates personnel to effectively recruit and match students. The structure of the program is based on the “best practices” model of a mentoring program.