LGC Tutoring @ CMU
Over the past decade the Leonard Gelfand Center has supported local K-12 schools and after school programs via the LGC Tutoring program. This program provides opportunities for CMU students to share their expertise and passion for learning with children in the community. With 6 sites in the 2021-2022 and potential for more locations in the coming years, the LGC Tutoring program provides individualized remediation and enrichment support at no cost to the Pittsburgh Public School District and after school programs.
Tutoring positions are available and posted on Handshake from August through January of the academic year. From there, tutor applicants are screened, Act 153 Clearances are obtained, and tutors are trained before joining their teachers and/or existing team of tutors already providing services at any given location. Opportunities vary by location from a traditional tutoring role to a more specialized teaching assistant role. Schedules are planned on a case by case basis to ensure the best match for tutors and also site partners. Due to the nature of these positions, a commitment of at least one full semester, and four hours per week is required.
A former tutor had this to say regarding his tutoring experience:
"I would like to extend my sincerest thanks for the opportunity to work at the LGC during my time at CMU. The speaking skills, communication abilities, and confidence that I built over the years as an LGC employee have been invaluable. I will never forget how impact the experience of teaching and tutoring has been on my own personal development." C. Breze, SciTech Tutor 2014-2018
Taylor Allderdice High School (9-12) – Pittsburgh Public School District
In the heart of Squirrel Hill, at Allderdice, a site partner as of the 2018 school year, tutors previously provided traditional remediation support at either the Writing Center or the Math Support Center. While these Centers are no longer active, thanks to the work of LGC tutors and site contacts, the Writing Center has transitioned online and LGC Tutors work as moderators, providing editing and content feedback for students via the Writing Center Inbox.
In the Fall of 2021 the Allderdice Tutoring partnership evolved to include a teaching assistant program in the Spanish Department. Tutors are able to circulate the classroom to assist students with individual questions, provide either enrichment or remediation support, work with groups, help prepare and execute activities and more. LGC tutors are matched with teachers based on their majors and courses of study to date. Tutors provide customized support Monday through Friday between the hours of 7:20AM – 2:45PM.
Science and Technology Academy (6-12) – Pittsburgh Public School District
Located in the Oakland neighborhood, SciTech has been a LGC Tutoring site since the school opened in 2009. The partnership was redesigned to better suit the needs of SciTech teachers and students by becoming more of a teaching assistant program. LGC tutors work alongside SciTech teachers while active instruction is happening. Tutors are able to circulate the classroom to assist students with individual questions, provide either enrichment or remediation support, work with groups, help prepare and execute lab activities and more. LGC tutors are matched with teachers based on their majors and courses of study to date.
Starting in the Spring of 2021, The SciTech partnership has evolved to include mentoring support for the Middle School Science Fair Activity Period. In this capacity, LGC Tutors work as mentors to guide middle school students through the science fair process, starting from designing their experiment, to completing their presentation. Tutors provide customized support Monday through Friday between the hours of 7:20AM – 2:45PM.
Ozanam After School Program (K-5) – Pittsburgh Public Schools After School Partner Site
Taking place at the Ammon Recreational Center in the Hill District, the Ozanam After School Program has been a cornerstone of the community since the 1970’s. The LGC has been providing tutoring support for the Ozanam program since the 2017 school year. Tutors provide support during homework help sessions and also conduct enrichment activities for the first part of the sessions. The second part of the Ozanam program affords tutors the opportunity to move into more of a mentor role as the student participants go to the gymnasium to play basketball, kickball, four square or any other activity they can think of to have fun after completing their homework. Tutors support the Ozanam After School Program Monday through Thursday between 4:00PM – 5:45PM.
Westinghouse Academy 6-12
Pittsburgh Westinghouse Academy 6-12 is a comprehensive 6-12 neighborhood school located in Pittsburgh's Homewood community that offers a variety of courses to meet the needs, abilities, and interests of its approximately 500 students. During the 2021-2022 School Year, tutors supported the Westinghouse Math program as both teaching assistants in Algebra, and tutoring in remediation and homework help for middle school students and student athletes. Tutors provide customized support Monday through Friday between the hours of 7:20AM – 2:45PM and in an afterschool capacity as dictated by the site manager each term.
City Charter High School - Emerging Partnership!
Founded in September 2002 with a totally fresh approach to high school education, City Charter High School has developed an enviable track record in educating the youth of our community. Technology-infused study, year-round learning, teacher-student continuity (over all 4 years), work-skills literacy, career mapping, workforce orientation and mentored internships are just some of the “best practices” that make City High so unique… and successful.
The Gelfand Center is working with the Teachers and Administrators at City High to support a variety of their academic offerings, including enrichment for ESL (English as a Second Language) learners as well as TA placements in research and graduate project courses and math and science classrooms. This partnership is on hiatus until Spring of 2023.
Future Sites
Local Schools and After School Programs frequently contact us to support their programs. Please reach out to Miriam Wertheimer if your program is seeking tutoring support. As tutors are first and foremost students themselves, locations are limited by transportation time and distance from campus.
For more information regarding the tutoring program, please reach out to Miriam Wertheimer, the current coordinator of the tutoring program.