EL MONTE – Mountain View High School’s Teacher Preparation Academy (TPA) has returned for the spring semester, during which students are tutoring and providing one-on-one instruction to transitional kindergarten through sixth-grade students while focusing on the development of their teaching skills.

Co-Directors Amy Minick and Mary Boutté lead the group of junior and senior students in TPA –– a Golden Bell Award-winning program that provides aspiring educators a pathway toward pursuing a teaching career –– as they offer weekly tutoring sessions at Maxson Elementary School and Payne Elementary School in the nearby Mountain View School District.

“The tutoring has been going great, our students love having the opportunity to be within the classrooms,” Minick said. “The teachers at both schools are very appreciative of the extra help, and the younger students get so excited when they see their tutors and get to work with them.”

The TPA program offers students a glimpse into the life of a teacher, as well as hands-on classroom experience working with students who may need extra support in reading, writing or math. Mountain View tutors are also asked to help decorate bulletin boards, cover reading books and more.

“During class time I sit in the back and work with only a few students, going over flash cards containing the high frequency words of the week,” Mountain View High School senior Jarethzy Roman said. “We work together and then I quiz them to see if they can memorize and pronounce the words. I have definitely seen a huge improvement and I know my students appreciate the help this semester.”

At Payne Elementary School, Mountain View High School tutors work with Spanish/English dual immersion students on how to hold a pencil, write their names, make larger sentences, learn sounds and pronunciation, play bingo to form letters and learn math through games.

Mountain View High students are currently preparing for Read Across America Day on March 2, when tutors will dress up as characters, read books aloud to students and talk to them about the importance of diversity in reading. At Maxon Elementary, tutors will celebrate the theme of “Dr. Seuss,” while those at Payne Elementary will explore the theme of “Harry Potter” with students.

“We are thrilled to be able to give our students the opportunity to tutor other students and learn more about education through our Teacher Preparation Academy program,” Superintendent Dr. Edward Zuniga said. “As a District, we know the value of this academy for our students who want to pursue a teaching career and the positive and lasting effects it has on the younger students, teachers and administration of the Mountain View School District.”

PHOTO CAPTION:

EMUHSD_TEACHER_PREP_ACADEMY_1: Mountain View High School seniors Luis Martinez and Luna Cuevas work with first-graders on their math skills.