Peer Power: Hazelwood’s Student Tutors are Lighting the Way for Young Learners

Across the Hazelwood School District, a quiet transformation is taking place — one Google Meets session, one math problem, one heartfelt connection at a time. High school students are stepping into a new kind of leadership through the Student Tutoring Program, mentoring elementary schoolers while discovering their own voices as teachers, role models, and changemakers.

The district has implemented a comprehensive student tutoring program featuring approximately 26 high school tutors from Central, East, and West High Schools, with online sessions held twice a week for approximately two hours. These juniors and seniors have completed a rigorous application process and are officially hired as part-time student tutors through the Hazelwood School District's standard employment procedures.

Student tutors like Kaylee Robinson and Tyler Florea, both juniors at Hazelwood West, are helping 3rd through 5th graders conquer math concepts that once felt intimidating. “I think it’s how fast they can pick up on skills,” Kaylee says, smiling. “I’ll start teaching something like equivalent fractions, and suddenly, they’ve got it. It’s just nice to see the growth.”

For Tyler, the experience is more than just about equations. “They’ll ask for help on stuff they already kind of know,” he explains. “They just want to make sure they’ve got it right — and that shows they care about learning.”

Both tutors agree that their work has reshaped their view of education. “It’s not difficult,” Tyler says of managing small groups. “They realize we’re close in age, but they still respect us. There’s a comfort there you don’t always see in classrooms.”

Meanwhile, student tutors from Hazelwood East — including Jayla Wilburn, Aleenah Abdurrauf, and Imani Evans — are making math both meaningful and memorable. Jayla lights up when describing her creative teaching strategy: “I taught them the rainbow method for multiplying bigger numbers. They remember it because it looked pretty — things that are fun stick with you.”

For Aleenah, building trust and rhythm is key. “I take a five-minute break in the middle of my hour session so they can walk around or reset,” she explains. “That way, they come back ready to focus again.”

And while the tutoring is virtual, the heart-to-heart connections are very real. Imani shares one of her favorite moments: “One of my students asked if I liked Five Nights at Freddy’s, and when I said yes, she had the biggest smile on her face. That’s when I realized — even little things like that help them open up.”

The program gives these high schoolers more than just work experience — it gives them perspective. “I’ve been tutored most of my life,” Aleenah admits. “I know some students don’t like to ask for help, so I want to help people who won’t ask.”

Jayla, too, draws meaning from the impact she sees each week. “One of my students could move up to honors-level math,” she says proudly. “She’s that smart and motivated.”

For many of these tutors, the program has been their first job — one that pays well and means even more. “I wanted to improve my communication skills and impact the youth,” Kaylee explains. “The kids are the future, and you have to prepare them properly.”

Tyler agrees. “It’s a good job if you like helping people,” he says. “It’s not about doing the work for them — it’s about guiding them.”

And while these young mentors are shaping their students’ academic futures, they’re also shaping their own. “Sometimes,” Imani reflects, “I learn with them. I remember what it feels like to struggle — and to finally get it.”

Across the district, these high school tutors are proving that leadership, empathy, and patience aren’t bound by age. They are redefining what it means to be a student — turning their knowledge into empowerment and their compassion into connection.

The student tutors aren’t just teaching — they’re making a difference in these young people’s lives.