Adopt A Class CEO Reflects on 5 years Leading a Movement
Dear Adopt A Class Family,
This month I celebrate my fifth year as CEO of Adopt A Class, and I’m filled with immense pride and gratitude for how far we’ve come together. Starting this journey amidst the unprecedented challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic was certainly daunting, but it also became a catalyst for innovation and growth.
Looking back, I’m astounded by the transformation. We’ve not only weathered the storm but emerged stronger than ever, expanding our reach and deepening our impact for students across the region.
- Empowering More Students: We’ve increased our student reach from 4,750 to over 12,000 students in over 480 classrooms, a remarkable 152% growth. This means thousands more young minds are being exposed to exciting career pathways and mentorship opportunities.
- Building a Powerful Mentor Community: Our mentor network has grown from 1,800 to nearly 4,800 dedicated professionals, a 167% increase. Mentors are the heart of our program, providing invaluable guidance and inspiration to students.
- Strengthening School Collaborations: We’ve increased the number of schools we work with from 33 to 57 a 70% growth, demonstrating our commitment to building long-term relationships with educational institutions.
- Broadening Organizational Reach: Our partners have more than doubled, from 110 to 230, a 109% increase, allowing us to reach a wider and more diverse student population.
- Expanding Geographic Footprint: We’ve grown from serving 7 school districts to 13, an 86% increase expanding our impact across the region.
- Navigating the Pandemic with Resilience: During the 2020-2021 academic year, we successfully transitioned to a virtual model, retaining 80% of our mentor teams and 100% of our teacher partnerships.
- Enriching Student Experiences: In fall of 2022, we launched an innovative partnership with the Cincinnati Museum Center and Crayons to Computers, providing hands-on learning experiences for over 1,000 5th grade students.
- Pioneering District-Wide Expansion: In 2022-2023, we launched our first district-level pilot in Middletown with 18 new mentor teams, demonstrating the scalability and effectiveness of our program.
- Building a Strong Foundation for Growth: In 2023, we secured a new home office at the University of Cincinnati, strengthened our leadership team with new Directors of Development and Corporate Relations, and expanded our budget to $1.2 million to support our growing staff and programs.
- Expanding Post-Secondary Opportunities: In spring 2023, we hired a Director of Programs to support the launch of a two- and four-year college visit pilot program, connecting over 400 middle school students with post-secondary pathways.
- Geographic Expansion: In 2023 we also secured a new partnership with Ludlow City Schools (Northern Kentucky) and in 2024, we secured 5-year funding to expand programming to Northern Kentucky River Cities schools. In June 2024 we secured new partnerships with Hamilton City Schools, Lockland Schools, and Bellevue Independent Schools for fall 2024 launch.
- Mentor Engagement: 2023 also saw the launch of a “Mentor Portal” for better data collection, and we achieved a record mentor team retention rate (91%).
- Recognition and Impact: In 2025, I received the Medical Mutual Pillar Award, our leadership team presented at the National Mentoring Summit, and a new UC research study was released showcasing the impact AAC has on mentors.
While we celebrate these achievements, we also know this is just the beginning for Adopt a Class! We are accelerating down the runway but have yet to fully take flight. Our mission of connecting youth to career pathways though the power of mentorship will continue to light our path as we grow in the future.
Thank you for your unwavering support and dedication to Adopt A Class. Together, we are making a real difference in the lives of young people.
With gratitude,
Sonya Fultz
CEO, Adopt A Class
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