Tutoring provides the one-on-one support students may need to help them reach their full potential and build confidence both inside and outside the classroom. For educators, tutoring offers flexibility in their schedules and supplemental income. For both students and tutors, the experience can be a rich and rewarding opportunity for teaching and learning.
On June 18, the Bank Street Development and Alumni Relations Office formed the new Alumni Tutoring Network to help Bank Street educators and retirees connect with each other, share best practices, and explore building their client roster. The peer support group also creates space to share best practices among progressive educators and network with other tutors.
Eleanor Traubman, GSE ’95, started her tutoring practice in 2014 and began brainstorming ideas to create an alumni community focused on early childhood education tutoring. She envisioned rich discussions on topics ranging from finding new clients and engaging with parents to online marketing and more.
“Tutoring is not my full-time [work], but it’s something I definitely want to pursue,” said Zoe Oppenheimer, GSE ’17, during the first meeting. According to Traubman, the group provides an opportunity to nurture relationships and receive support from other Bank Street alumni with different ranges of tutoring experience.
Participants are welcome at all levels of interest and experience. Tutoring Network participant and Bank Street educator Ryan Kelias had some previous experience with online tutoring and said she is preparing for the new normal brought on by COVID-19. “If we’re going to be doing a lot of remote and long-distance tutoring, I want to get a sense of what works for that format.”
Private tutoring has become such a popular career choice that the Graduate School of Education’s Continuing Professional Studies Office offers a course titled, “Starting Your Own Tutoring Practice” in its Continuing Studies Course Directory. The class covers what kind of tutoring makes the most sense for teachers, how to market yourself and your skills, and helpful tutoring practices and resources.
“The class can help students determine whether tutoring is a viable path,” said Joy Lundeen Ellebbane, Director of Continuing Professional Studies. “Tutoring can add to one’s resume and help it stand out from the crowd and it also provides educators with more options outside of a traditional classroom.”
To join the Bank Street Alumni Tutoring Network, please contact alumni@bankstreet.edu. The next Alumni Tutoring Network meeting will be held on July 15 at 5:00 PM EST.