High School Support Initiative
The High School Support Initiative (HSSI) connects Stanford students with high school students from local communities as tutors, mentors and academic supports.
Research shows that the presence of caring adults in young people’s lives leads to positive outcomes such as resilience, self-esteem, and self-efficacy. The program aims to empower local youth to excel academically, to take advantage of programs offered in their schools and to become advocates for themselves and their families. At the same time, it offers Stanford students the chance to engage in a meaningful educational service experience.
Through this program, Stanford students will
- receive comprehensive training to work with youth;
- be partnered with youth in one-to-one or small group settings in the community;
- build tutoring and mentoring skills and learn about local education issues; and
- bring their strengths, interests, and skills to build strong, fruitful relationships.
Eligible students may be paid for their time through Community Service Work Study.
HSSI program goals
- To provide learning and reflection opportunities for Stanford students to better understand education equity in local communities.
- To connect Stanford resources to local school partners that respond to needs expressed by them, such as educational support or college access.
- To connect Stanford students to high school students from local communities to build relationships toward positive reciprocal outcomes.
Training and Preparation
- Quarterly training, 1.5 hours
- Weekly learning and reflection sessions, 45 mins
- Mid-quarter and end-of quarter written reflections, 45 mins
Service
- Weekly tutoring, 2.5 hours or more if desired (the chart below includes travel time)
Student participation options
School-year tutor-mentor This year there are three ways of participating either through weekly opportunities, workshop facilitation, and/or through monthly mentorship. Please read the descriptions below and within the application. While most placements only require you to tutor or mentor once a week, it would be especially helpful if you could sign-up to tutor twice a week to address growing needs. Students make a multi-quarter, ideally a year-long, commitment to serve as tutors, academic mentors, or enrichment workshop facilitators. Each quarter, a schedule with options is developed in partnership with the school contacts. Students receive orientation and training before starting service. During service, students fill out online reflections, attend a mid-quarter check in, and participate in learning sessions and an end-of-quarter wrap up meeting. HSSI Academic Year Tutor-Mentor Placement and Role Description
*The community partner is willing to consider an adjusted schedule if needed. Application process In the application you will be asked to chose all the times you're available, and we will do our best to match your availability with community partner needs. Applications will be accepted on a rolling basis and new tutors assigned based on community partner needs. To protect the bond that develops between students and their tutor-mentors, we strongly encourage a year-long commitment to HSSI, especially if you're a matched tutor-mentor. Apply here to participate in HSSI as a tutor-mentor. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Summer tutor-mentors Students serve with the Summer Saturdays at Stanford program for youth from the schools that partner with the High School Support Initiative. Stanford students serve as group mentors and support workshops and field trips that happen in the day-long sessions. Recruitment for tutor-mentors begins in spring quarter. Application process This role is in preparation for Summer 2025. We will begin recruiting again in spring quarter 2025. Tutor-mentors with at least one year experience in our programs are given preference. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Education Partnerships Fellow (school-year) This is a year-long paid fellowship for students to support the HSSI program as leaders and staff. Application process Applicants must have participated at least one quarter with the High School Support Initiative. Hiring occurs during spring and summer. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Summer Program Fellow This is a full-time, nine-week, summer fellowship to provide in-classroom and project support for our partners, East Palo Alto Academy (EPAA) and Menlo Atherton High School (M-A), during their summer school sessions. Fellows will be expected to serve as academic supports, while facilitating socioemotional learning activities, and supervising field trips. Applications are due February 4, 2025. Application process Applications and more information can be found here. Outreach and recruitment starts Winter/Spring quarters, and decisions will be made by March 2024. The Fellowship stipend starts at $7500. |
For more information, please contact Priscila Garcia.