D202 Seniors Create Virtual Tutoring Program Amid Pandemic

PLAINFIELD, IL — Two Plainfield South High School seniors created a virtual tutoring program that recruits other students to help students succeed during remote learning. Fatimah Olagunju and Jasmine Divinity started working on the concept in November, when D202 schools were in full remote learning.

"When we started remote learning, we saw a lot of uncertainty of what was to come with the new setting," Divinity said. "We wanted to create something to help students make them more confident in their ability to learn."

The school offered in-person tutoring but had to stop because of the pandemic. The girls pitched their idea to PSHS Associate Principal Phil Pakowski, NHS sponsors Stephanie Stashak and Sandy McKinney, and Media Specialist Gwen Kuhns.

"Jasmine and Fatimah have truly been the masterminds behind this initiative and have a real passion for serving others, especially other students here at PSHS," McKinney said.

Pakowski, Stashak, McKinney and Kuhns helped with setup, technology, and guided the girls through the process. Forty volunteers tutor 26 students virtually in 20-minute sessions, Olagunju said.

Olagunju and Divinity along with Stashak recruited tutors from the NHS, so the tutoring hours also count toward NHS school service hours, Divinity said. The seniors also learned about leadership and initiative by creating the virtual tutoring program.

"I learned to take initiative. Usually in the past I would sit back and wait for solution," Olagunju said.

"I can start an initiative, and I know what it is to be a leader," Divinity said. "I can go and work in different communities."

The adult mentors are proud of and impressed by Divinity and Olagunju’s work.

"I could not be prouder of how they took an idea of helping others that are struggling with remote learning and created a program that can be continued at PSHS even when we return to in-person learning completely," Pakowski said.

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