Preparing Students for Success One Connection at a Time

Publish on October 12, 2026 Categories -

Some of the most impactful experiences for students happen beyond the standard curriculum. Elizabeth Ormsby, Career Readiness Teacher at Johnson High School in St. Paul, has made those experiences a key part of her students’ success. Through BestPrep’s eMentors program and Classroom Plus mock interviews, her students gain firsthand experience connecting with professionals, exploring careers, and building confidence for their future. 

What keeps her coming back year after year is the trust she has built with BestPrep’s team. From recruiting volunteers to managing logistics, BestPrep makes it possible for students to participate in meaningful real-world experiences without creating additional burdens for teachers. “The trustworthiness of the entire staff at BestPrep means I can go back to them again and again and again,” she said. 

[Johnson High School students during their mock interview.]

One of the most impactful experiences comes through mock interviews. While students spend time learning interview skills in class, she believes nothing compares to practicing with a professional they’ve never met before. “The fact that I safely put them across from a total stranger makes the experience so much more realistic and so much more powerful. It’s not something you can replicate in a classroom.” The impact can often be immediate. Elizabeth shared that one of her students completed a BestPrep mock interview and interviewed for a job at Dairy Queen the very same day. The student later shared that the real interview felt nearly identical and resulted in a job offer! 

[Johnson High School students with their mentor.]

Through eMentors, students also gain exposure to careers they may never have considered while connecting with professionals from diverse backgrounds and industries. Elizabeth mentions that when a student is paired with a mentor that looks like them, it makes it much more impactful because they can now picture themselves in that career. 

Reflecting on the partnership, she puts it simply, “I couldn’t do it without BestPrep. My job is to help these kids prepare for the real world, and the kids would be worse off without the resources I get from BestPrep.”  

[Elizabeth Ormbsy and her class during an eMentors Meet-and-Greet.]