Dynamic and Collaborative Support: Inside Tabor's Judgment-Free Peer Tutoring Program

With 23 trained tutors specializing in everything from English, History, and Languages, to Math and Science, the peer tutoring program housed in the ASSIST Learning Center offers an in-person, hands-on resource for all Tabor students, whether they’re tackling a major project or just stuck on a single problem.

Students can engage with the program in multiple ways—they can be matched with a tutor for scheduled sessions or take advantage of the drop-in option for more immediate, as-needed support. This flexibility helps ensure that every student can access the resources available, when they need them most.

Peer Tutor Leader Nick Faiella ’26 knows that the peer tutoring program is one of Tabor’s greatest assets. “The most valuable resource peer tutors provide to the greater student body is the ability to see material from the student perspective. It is far easier to help a student with a subject when you have been in their shoes before. Taking advantage of the program has helped so many students and I am glad I got to be a piece of that growth.”

Becoming a peer tutor is a formal process that requires students to submit both an application, a statement of intent, and teacher recommendations for the subjects they wish to specialize in. Many tutors bring expertise in multiple areas, which allows for flexibility as student needs shift and evolve throughout the year. For instance, ninth graders often seek additional support in courses that are writing-heavy, such as English and History, while seniors frequently request help in more advanced subjects like AP Statistics.

Cindy Ren ’27, also a Peer Tutor Leader, remarks on her experience utilizing the program when she first arrived at Tabor and how it inspired her to become a peer tutor. “I received an enormous amount of help from peer tutors in my freshman year, and that support made a huge difference in my transition to Tabor. Becoming a peer tutor feels like a meaningful way to give back to my community by using my academic strengths to support others. Setting up one-on-one sessions throughout the year not only lets me share the joy and be a part of students’ progress, but also helps me build long-term, trusting relationships. As an international student navigating a new country, peer tutoring makes me feel valued and seen.”

At the beginning of each academic year, tutors arrive on campus a few days early for training sessions during which they sharpen their tutoring skills and discuss the importance of confidentiality. Throughout the year, monthly meetings provide ongoing development and connection as tutors work to meet the needs of their peers while balancing their own work loads. To recognize their dedication, tutors work toward completing at least ten hours of tutoring over the course of the year to earn a certificate of service.

The program is guided by Peer Tutor Leaders—a group of students who serve as a thinktank for feedback, planning, and improvement. They help steer the program’s direction, determining what works, what needs to be adjusted, and where the tutoring team can expand its impact. They are also responsible for developing and coordinating skill-building workshops. For instance, earlier this year they offered one designed for ninth grade students on how to write effective emails.

The peer tutoring program is intentionally designed to be as student-centered as possible. “We look closely at the data and metrics to track how [the program] is being used, by how many students, and when they use it the most. We really consider it all and we’re ready to pivot when necessary to support student needs,” says Zoe Tsongalis, Director of Library and Learning Support. “Most tutors specialize in one or two specific subjects, but they are also trained to help guide their peers even when a question arises outside of their chosen subjects. They can help them think through their next steps, point them toward additional resources, or connect them with another peer tutor.”

Confidentiality is a cornerstone of the tutoring experience, helping students feel comfortable seeking assistance. Whether meeting weekly with a matched tutor or stopping in for a last-minute question, students can rely on peer tutoring as a judgment-free, confidential space.

Faiella notes, “In high school with so many things piling up sometimes it’s hard to ask for help and I hope that being a resource as a peer tutor makes asking for help not so difficult. Seeing my classmates both grow and find confidence in their studies, in and out of the classroom, is truly why I decided to be a peer tutor in the first place.”

“Through tutoring, I’ve come to see how ‘smartness’ and ‘kindness’ are closely connected, as being an effective tutor requires patience, empathy, and genuine care for others. Working with students who feel like past versions of myself has allowed me to become more willing to help others outside of the peer tutoring rooms—in classrooms, dorms, and in my community.,” echoes Ren.

Open to as many qualified tutors as possible, the peer tutoring program continues to evolve as a dynamic, collaborative support system within the Tabor community—empowering students not only to succeed academically, but to contribute meaningfully to one another’s learning.