AmeriCorps program welcomes 30 new tutors

New AmeriCorps tutors from the island’s public and private schools pose for a photo during their two-day pre-service orientation last weekend. (Thomas A. Manglona II)

The tutors, who are primarily seniors, will be teaching reading and writing to elementary and middle school students in eight schools across the island.

At the two-day training, the new tutors learned about the basics of teaching, student discipline, and the regulations of the AmeriCorps program. Participants also took part in various team building exercises and heard from a variety of guest speakers, including the Washington Conservation Corps, which is under the national AmeriCorps service program.

According to CNMI AmeriCorps director Victoria Nicholas, the new tutors cover areas of the western and central parts of Saipan. More tutors, she said, are needed for the eastern and northern Saipan schools. Nicholas said her office is working to recruit 15 more tutors for this school year.

Among other expectations, the tutors must complete 675 hours of tutoring, service learning, and community service in their academic year under the guidance of PSS site supervisors.

“This new group of student members are very high energy and truly motivated to make a difference in their service to the students, school communities where they serve and the island,” she told Saipan Tribune.

“They have a level of enthusiasm and ‘let’s get this done’ attitude that awes me! I am very excited this program year and am looking forward to a year of ‘making a difference’ and ‘getting it done’ with these new and exciting AmeriCorps student member tutors,” she added.

Marianas High School senior Luigi Alonzo is excited about his new role as a tutor. “I look forward to an awesome year. I shall ensure that students do great and go home happy and proud to be students of AmeriCorps.”

Hopwood Junior High School teacher and AmeriCorps site supervisor Jackie Jucutan told Saipan Tribune that many students under the program start out with little to no English language skills, affecting them in terms of their academic and social skills.

“By joining this program, our tutors can help them break those barriers and slowly transition into the basics of the complex English language. As far as experience goes, I am enjoying every minute of the program. The students are engaged and love the fact that they are not only involved in intense reading activities but also with outreach activities that extends to the community,” she added.