JUMPSTART Senior Tutoring

     As COVID-19 has seemed to find its way into every aspect of common life, it seems as though many people are unable to experience many things they may have once taken for granted. Whether for personal pleasure or necessity, many, including students, have seen an abrupt decline in services available to them. Despite this, the tutoring service, JUMPSTART: a student learning alliance, has readily adapted to fit the change. 

     “I actually think our members are adjusting well considering the sudden pandemic that occurred out of nowhere,” Public Relations Director Zeniah Wilburn said. 

     JUMPSTART had been experimenting with an online tutoring option when the pandemic first broke out in the United States, and had already been discussing ways of going virtual shortly before the in person school year had been cut short. While school is back in session at the moment, JUMPSTART however is only providing virtual tutoring.

     “For the time being this is solely a virtual tutoring service provided by Zoom. However, once we can begin face-to-face meetings again, we will offer that option as well,” advisor and sponsor Carpia Naylor said. 

     Though the pandemic has seemed to cause the world to take a step back in how involved people are, it has given JUMPSTART the idea to step up their game in terms of availability to their students. While previously the service was an in person after school setting with only one day a week with a specific time schedule, the organization has branched out their dates and times. Tutors are now not only limited to what subject they teach, but what days and times they are able to teach, and allows for tutees to have more chances to connect with tutors they may not have been able to previously. 

     “Scheduling depends on the tutor and the tutee. We have an electronic scheduling system that allows the tutee to select a time that works for both the tutor and tutee,” Naylor said.

     JUMPSTART is currently working on getting back into the groove of tutoring, so unfortunately they are limited to tutoring only one grade level at this time.

     “At the moment, it's for seniors only. But we do plan to open up to other grades in the future,” Naylor said. 

     JUMPSTART offers a variety of subjects, ensuring that nearly everyone who is in need of assistance can find it within the program’s reach. From chemistry to calculus, JUMPSTART has something for everyone. 

     “Currently, we are offering about 12 different subject areas,” Naylor said. 

     The student learning alliance is working hard every day to accomplish more and more for their fellow students to give them as much help as possible during the current state the academic world is in. However, as virtual learning does not measure up to its in person counterpart, neither does tutoring. 

     The goal is return to in person tutoring as to give students a more personalized experience with their peers and make better connections not only with their tutors, but the subject area they are studying. 

     “Hopefully [it will be in person] sometime around fall break, we’re trying to work something out right now but there are no promises until the school board approves,” Wilburn said.

     The service is free to sign up for and easy to access. When a student signs up for a time slot, the scheduled appointment is sent directly to the tutor in question’s email, as to more efficiently make tutors aware of what their schedule will look like. You can sign up for a slot at www.picktime.com/jumpstart and choose from the assorted classes that are offered. Then click book an appointment.