Peer Tutors at SJHS

Keylee Gavin and peer tutor Kinsely Foster

Darryl Barnes
SJHS Staff Writer

Sometimes students in Springville Junior High’s self-contained special education class need a little extra help, which is why SJHS created a peer tutor class. “This class is designed to help kids who have disabilities to fit in with other kids in a safe and comfortable environment,” Dallin Droubay, ninth grade peer tutor, explained.

At the beginning of each semester, Mrs. Claire Mills, a special education teacher at SJHS, explains her goals for the peer tutors. “Peer tutors are encouraged to get to know the students, help them with individual work, and be a friend.” Peer tutors help Mrs. Mills’s students with assignments from their electives classes and also model appropriate behavior when out in the community on class fieldtrips. But this learning goes both ways. “The class is designed to aid in overall learning of both the peer tutor and students within the class,” Mrs. Mills explained.

Each day the tutors are assigned to help a different student; some of peer tutors help students with their homework, some take students to other classes, and some just to be friends. That is one key factor in this class, be a friend. One of their goals is to make sure that the students in Mrs. Mills’s class have friends throughout the school.

Students hard at work in Mrs. Mills's class. Left to right: Jasmine Corona, Joseph Serrano, technician Becca Byron, Caleb Eliason, Mrs. Mills, Ale Ruiz, technician Stephanie Benson, and Cassandra Garcia

“It’s my favorite class of the day! The students are hilarious, I love working with them!” Madison Nichols, an eighth grade peer tutor, said. All of the tutors agree that this is a fun class. Each student in the class has a different perspective on different things. Each has their own personality, which makes them shine in different ways. “These students make my day at school worth while! I love this class!” Mariah Snyder, eighth grade peer tutor, said.

Jessica Drazan and technician Janine Johnson

The importance of this class is definite; the students in Mrs. Mills’s class and the peer tutors both enjoy it. Those two added factors result in a successful class for encouraging these kids. “My students learn lots of life and job skills, how to live on their own, and many academic skills. Sometimes friends can be hard to find, but not in this class. This class is full of students who like to have friends, be friends, and help friends,” Mrs. Mills explained.

The peer tutor class is an amazing program that does a lot of good to our school. This class is fun and enjoyable, and all the peer tutors love it.

Adam Stinson shows off his muscles for technician Stephanie Benson.

Joseph Serrano and technician Becca Byron