A+ Tutoring
Fly High with A+
Students exposed to academic opportunities through tutoring and mentoring program
When students are involved in the A+ Program, going to school doesn’t necessarily mean driving to Glendale. Depending on where the student is assigned, it can mean going to a completely different school to tutor students of a younger grade level.
The program was designed to expose high school students to teaching opportunities through tutoring and mentoring. It’s also a way for students to obtain college scholarships and two free years of community college if they meet the state requirements, which consists of completing 50 hours of unpaid tutoring, having an average of 95 percent attendance throughout high school, a clean citizenship record, and maintaining a 2.5 or higher GPA.
For many A+ tutors, they gain more than just academic rewards; by tutoring, they learn valuable life skills. Constance Leonard, A+ Coordinator, sees every year how students are impacted personally by the program.
“The fun part for me is watching kids make relationships and connections [with students they tutor], and even more so, finding out about themselves; what things they’re good at,” Leonard said.
Because of the different levels of opportunity that A+ offers, students enroll for a variety of reasons. Emi Juchems (12) is one example.
“[I did the program for] the benefits, [such as] the A+ scholarship,” Juchems said. “[Also], tutoring is fun.”
Kennedy Liggett (12) tutored second grade students this year. She decided to participate in the program because she enjoyed tutoring young kids, and did regularly at a local school.
“I already tutor at Wilder [Elementary School]- why not take a class that lets me do that?” Liggett said.
Her favorite part about tutoring was getting to meet and work with kids. Liggett helped students with their reading abilities and catered to any technology needs they had. Through that and her dedication to the students, she formed relationships.
“When you leave [the students on the last day] they write you letters,” Liggett said.
There are many levels of opportunity and gains that can come from being in this program, but it is solely dependent on what an A+ student chooses to make of them.
“You get out of it what you put into it,” Leonard said.
Each year, more than half of the students enroll in A+. It has proven to be a successful program and continues to help students achieve in a variety of areas.
Published in the 2016 Yearbook
A+ Tutoring was about the scholastic opportunities available to current high school students at Glendale through the A+ Program. Students were aware of the program, but through the effectiveness of the story, they were reminded of the benefits of it, and hopefully considered joining the program if they weren't already a part. The yearbook was a platform for students to learn about programs and activities within the school, so it was a good reason to put the A+ Program story in and show that the yearbook was knowledgeable about various topics at Glendale. From writing this story, I learned several new facts about the A+ Program that enhanced my previous knowledge, and I also enhanced and developed the writing style I formed in Journalism I. Reflecting on this story, I am most proud of the factual content that consists throughout the piece and how it can pertain to and interest the general public at Glendale.
