SWAT (Students Who Achieve Together) is a unique program that is making waves as students take the lead in education. SWAT provides peer-to-peer tutoring for all students. SWAT is empowering students to help their peers excel, as student tutors guide their fellow Knights to academic success right in the HUB.
The SWAT tutoring program plays a key role in supporting academic excellence. Not only does SWAT help students who are struggling, but it also empowers tutors themselves. Through SWAT, tutors can gain teaching experience, leadership skills, and it also looks good on college applications. And, they can do all this while making a meaningful impact on their peers.
“We have this year 70 tutors. We also have an honors program for tutors who are in their second year of tutoring. There’s 27 honors tutors,” said head of SWAT, Jennifer Welty.
SWAT offers very consistent support throughout the day, including Knights Blocks and lunch. Students have the opportunity to access tutoring help when it best fits their schedule to make sure they can get guidance during the moments that suit them most. SWAT’s flexibility allows students to receive academic support without disrupting their daily routines.
“We have tutors available all seven periods. And we always have somebody on call that can get a last minute,” Welty said. “There’s a sign-up sheet that’s on our website. There’s a QR code that’s posted in the HUB where you can just sign up to tutor then, and I usually get everybody organized within 24 hours.”
SWAT sessions are thoughtfully structured to maximize effectiveness while accommodating students’ schedules. The session provide optimal balance between focused learning and time management.
“They’re usually 45 minutes to 30 minutes,” said a tutor, junior Lisbeth Mungia. “You can always find someone in the HUB or ask your teacher to help get someone to tutor you.”
One of SWAT’s most remarkable features is its ability to to help with the diverse needs of students. Whether it’s math, science, journalism, or even art, SWAT provides comprehensive support for all classes. The program’s team of dedicated student tutors are not only adept at teaching but also skilled at providing support tailored to individual needs.
“It [SWAT] helps them by getting help on subjects that they’re currently struggling on and make them better at the subject so they can feel more confident about what they’re learning and later on help them with any tests or any other assignments that they’re doing currently,” Mungia said.
The effectiveness of SWAT is very evident in the improvement of students’ grades. The SWAT tutors have seen their peers improve academically. As a result of the dedicated support and guidance they’ve received, struggling students have transformed their grades. This progress doesn’t just show the commitment of the program but also the potential for every student to reach their academic goals with SWAT.
“I’ve definitely seen that their grades have improved, and they’ve gained a better understanding of their material,” said sophomore Lillian Abney, a student tutor.
