Tutors offer students several options to improve their grades.
by Ben Gilliland
Thomas Jefferson High School has several different tutoring options designed to help students, the biggest of which is located in the library where the tutors are dedicated to improving students’ grades.
Wauneta Vann and Liz Buffington head the tutoring in the library. Both Vann and Buffington are teachers in training, and both did their student teaching at TJ last year. Vann is studying at the University of Denver, and gained her field experience with History Teacher Gordon Heaton. Buffington has graduated form Metro and was a part of the Teacher Quality Enrichment program (TQE) there, and is now a licensed teacher. She did her observing with Dean of Students Mary Hayhurst and History Teacher Linda Estlund. “We are here to be advocates for the students and help those who have lower grades, or undesirable grades, get them up and maintain them,” said Vann.
Both Buffington and Vann will be available for tutoring in the library Wednesdays and Fridays every period, including lunch, and will also be available in the lunchroom during late- start Wednesdays from 7:30-8:20 a.m. They also have other tutors who will be available in the library on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 9:00 a.m.-12:00 p.m., and there is a math tutor available on Tuesdays and Thursdays in room 108 from 2-4 p.m. as well. “We want students to realize that education does not have to be a terrible, traumatizing, boring thing; it can be fun, and that’s what we want students to walk away with,” said Vann.
The tutors are here to help the students, and can assist them in any subject. Both Vann and Buffington are studying to be History teachers, but they are more than capable of assisting students with other subjects like math and science. If there is a question that the tutors can’t answer they will direct the student to a teacher who will be able to help them.
“We want to help students become organized, help them use their time more wisely and efficiently, and give them a positive learning environment to work in. We truly care about helping students, and their academic outcome is in our best interest,” said Buffington.
