Each month we honor mentors who go above and beyond. This month we are excited to announce that Richard Leon (Saddle Peak Elementary) and Joe Schumacher (Emily Dickinson Elementary) are our May Mentors in the Spotlight! Congratulations, Richard and Joe!
CAP Mentor:
Richard Leon (Saddle Peak Elementary)
Richard Leon has a big heart for mentoring shaped by his own childhood experiences. As a child, he faced struggles until someone took him under their wing, transforming his life. Having experienced firsthand the power of mentorship, Richard has been generous about giving back and guiding others toward a hopeful and fulfilling future.
He began mentoring on his own, driven by a deep desire to make a difference. Now, in his first year as a Thrive CAP mentor, he is making a meaningful impact. As a bilingual mentor, it has been enriching for him to support both an English-speaking and a Spanish-speaking student. His dedication is unwavering—he has never missed a week, faithfully offering two hours of his time to connect, support, and uplift his mentees. You won’t find a kinder soul with a bigger heart. Mentoring changes lives, and Richard is living proof.
CAP Mentor:
Joe Schumacher (Emily Dickinson Elementary)
Joe is an inspirational model of the value of the CAP program and well deserving of recognition! Joe first began mentoring with the CAP program over 10 years ago, and he continues to show up each week for his student at Emily Dickinson with so much kindness, empathy, dedication, and encouragement. Joe knows firsthand the impact and value of having an adult show up consistently, as Joe himself had a CAP mentor when he was growing up.
Joe is now making a positive impact on the life of his mentee each week as they build their relationship and spend quality time together while reading and playing games. Joe’s positive influence and impact are so evident. As his CAP student says, “I just like reading with him. He’s nice!” Thanks, Joe, for your commitment to CAP!