Schools
District 65 tutoring program keeps local kids on track
This summer, the largest number of teenage tutors helped with Evanston elementary summer school.
For the last month, teens were in Evanston elementary schools helping summer school students with hands-on projects like building solar ovens or managing simple machines. On Aug. 11, 45 teenagers wrapped up their first summer jobs as tutors in District 65. The kids, between 14 and 16 years old, were part of the annual Summer Tutors Program, where young people are hired to work in District 65 elementary classrooms and offices to assist with the district’s summer programs.
Of about 150 qualified applicants, 45 were selected, said Kim Hoopingarner, Youth Job Center development director. This is the largest number of tutors the program has had in its 16 years and the highest in participation.
“This year was the best year,” she said. “We had all 45 who started the program complete it.”
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Summer tutors are placed one per classroom for the summer courses for kindergarteners to fourth-graders, said Jamilla Pitts, District 65 summer learning coordinator. The summer school’s curriculum includes “STEM” courses, which highlight science, technology, engineering and math. This is where two summer tutors assist students with hands-on projects in the classroom, such as building solar ovens.
“We appreciate the way that they pitch in and feel as much a part of making the program a success as the teachers do,” Pitts said.
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The program, which started in 1995, is a partnership between District 65 and the Youth Job Center in Evanston that runs from July 11 to Aug. 11 each year. Tutors work in District 65 elementary schools from 8:15 a.m. to 12:15 p.m. Monday through Thursday and earn a stipend paid by the Youth Job Center.
Though summer school is over, the job’s not done for the tutors. They will go to four follow-up sessions over the coming school year.
The first meeting will be Sept. 15 at Evanston Township High School and will host area professionals from different kinds of businesses to talk about what it takes to do their jobs. Hoopingarner said she would like to one day develop a cohort of summer tutors to measure the program’s impact.
“The idea is to keep this already motivated group of kids engaged and on track,” she said.
