By Ben Kennedy
A new program at Mashpee has allowed seniors to earn money while making a difference in the lives of future high schoolers.
With the addition of a directed study into all MMHS students’ schedules, a select group of seniors were offered the chance to participate in a new tutoring program where they were paired with middle school students to provide them academic, social, and emotional support.
While this program has certainly been beneficial for the middle schoolers and seniors taking part, the state and education system as a whole is reaping the benefits as well. These students are getting to experience some of the highs and lows of being a teacher, in hopes of preparing them for an occupation in the educational field.
A new program at Mashpee has allowed seniors to earn money while making a difference in the lives of future high schoolers.
With the addition of a directed study into all MMHS students’ schedules, a select group of seniors were offered the chance to participate in a new tutoring program where they were paired with middle school students to provide them academic, social, and emotional support.
While this program has certainly been beneficial for the middle schoolers and seniors taking part, the state and education system as a whole is reaping the benefits as well. These students are getting to experience some of the highs and lows of being a teacher, in hopes of preparing them for an occupation in the educational field.
Mr. Looney, the leader of the program, has noticed serious improvements in both the middle school students and the seniors. Middle school is often a difficult time for students, and many struggle to set the foundation that they need to succeed at the high school level. The hope is that the seniors can create a more interpersonal relationship with the students by working with them one-on-one. After all, the seniors were in the same shoes only a few years prior.
Although this program has proved to be successful in its first year of operation, there were certainly some challenges getting it started. When asked about some of the roadblocks encountered, Mr. Looney said, “The biggest challenge we were faced with was getting the program up and running in an extremely short period of time. We knew it was a win-win for the high school seniors and middle school students but coordinating the effort meant outreach, enrollment, and schedule changes.” In addition to some of the scheduling issues, Mr. Looney also noted that starting this program was similar to the opening of a small business, with seniors being the service provider to the middle school customers. If a senior does not come for tutoring, a middle school student is left without the guidance that they signed up to receive.
One-on-one tutoring sessions are not the only responsibility for many of the seniors. Some are going into middle school classes and providing support for the class and the teacher. Through this aspect of the program, seniors are able to see some of the responsibilities that teachers take on, as well as learn some teaching strategies that they can translate into their tutoring.
After the success of the program in its inaugural year at Mashpee Middle-High School, Mr. Looney and the administration have big plans for continuation in the following years. By starting the program earlier in the year, Mr. Looney hopes that the participants will be able to build even stronger relationships. Seniors this year are getting the opportunity to carry on with the program past their last day of school, to ensure that the middle school students continue to get the support they need to finish the year off strong.
Rising seniors should be on the lookout for this opportunity come next fall, as it is a great way to truly make a difference at the school, while also collecting a nice paycheck.