FAIRMONT — Several Fairmont High School graduates who are now in college, have come back to help tutor current students at their alma mater ahead of the end of the school year.
Co-principal Kim Niss explained how it all got started.
“The idea came from Mr. (Jared) Thompson who mentioned that when we had peer tutors, it was beneficial. Mr. (Alex) Schmidt and I took it to cabinet and knowing we had extra Covid money that was coming in and seeing the needs of the students, that’s how it got started,” Niss said.
Niss said they posted the paid positions on the district’s Facebook page.
“We also encouraged our teachers to reach out to students they knew who were coming home,” Niss said.
Eight students, most of which are 2020 graduates, were hired to work as tutors. Some have been here for about three weeks and others recently started after their college school year ended.
They work each school day from 8 a.m.-3:30 p.m. There also is Saturday school happening right now and Niss said the tutors have been helping during that as well.
Dan Brummond, a 2020 graduate, is currently going to the University of Minnesota-Duluth where he’s studying bio-chemistry.
“I wanted to give back to what Fairmont Area Schools has given to me. They’ve given me the fundamentals to succeed, so I think it’s right to give back,” Brummond said.
Brummond said he also thinks it’s been easier for students to connect with the tutors.
“Sometimes, in class, they think their question is dumb so they don’t ask, but then feel more comfortable working one-on-one with us,” said Brummond.
Zihao Yang currently attends Harvard. Yang said he also wanted to give back to the school and help the youth here.
“The kids are so fun to work with. I see a lot of potential in them and they just need some motivation,” said Yang.
Zach Soelter also is attending the University of Minnesota-Duluth and majoring in bio-chemistry.
“My mom is a part-time sub here and she said it’s been difficult for the teachers, so I thought I could help the teachers by helping the students who need a little extra help,” Soelter said.
Emily Kerekes is a 2020 graduate and currently studies government at Liberty University.
“I like getting to see people I know but also getting to talk to the new generation of students,” Kerekes said.
Mikayla Soelter, a 2017 graduate of Fairmont, recently graduated from Drake University. She plans to start medical school this summer.
“I got to TA for a chemistry class this past semester and it was easier for me to empathize with the students. I know it can be hard for teachers to give everybody the attention they need so having extra hands helps,” she said.
Apoorva Komaragiri, a 2020 Fairmont High School graduate, attends Case Western Reserve University, where she’s studying nutrition and psychology.
“We know what learning during Covid is like. For a lot of students, it helps to have somewhere there to sit down with them and ask questions to and be comfortable with,” Komargiri said.
Komaragiri also has been working closely with ELL (English-language learners) students. She said she’s happy to be able to help with some communication barriers, especially with the extra technology this year.
“It’s been very impactful to see how much they want to get things done and get the credits in order to graduate,” Komaragiri said.
FHS graduates Lucas Simpson, who attends the University of Minnesota, and McKenna Rodriguez, who attends The California Institute of Technology, also have come back to help tutor.
“Knowing the tutors that we have, they’re so capable and they know what the kids need and can naturally give them what they need. It’s amazing to see them work with the kids and we’re getting good feedback from the teachers,” Niss said.
The classes the tutors help with vary, but they’re mostly helping with math and science classes. They’re also working with all grade levels at the high school.
“Our goal moving forward would be to look at if we can continue this during the winter break when kids are home and again when they get out of school and come home for the summer,” Niss said.
So far, the idea has been beneficial for all parties involved.
“I always say every kid needs a champion and I see these tutors serving as champions for our kids right now and it’s a neat connection between our past graduates and current students,” Niss said.
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