By Louise Schultze, Marketing and Outreach Specialist
When Stanford OHS English Instructor Lesley Stanford heard Former President Bill Clinton speak in the Fall of 2020 on education reform, his most impactful piece of advice was “community service and engagement for middle school students.”
"I felt like he was staring right at me when he said that!" said Ms. Stanford. "Meaningful community engagement opportunities offered at the middle school level is an effective and important component for student success and continued participation."
From this inspiration, Ms. Stanford started the Nashville Project Initiative, a one-on-one peer tutoring program which aims to "involve middle school students so that they become informed and inspired to continue being actively engaged citizens." All year, Stanford OHS middle schoolers have partnered with 7th and 8th grade students from a low-income neighborhood in East Nashville, Tenn. to work on English literacy, history, and social studies.
“It’s wonderful to watch the peer tutors bonding with the students in East Nashville,” Ms. Stanford said. “They talk about music, they talk about art… and our students are really committed to teaching these students who don’t get the same kind of opportunities offered here at Stanford Online High School.”
Besides improved academic learning, the Nashville Project Initiative has developed interpersonal, communication, and leadership skills, improved social responsibility and citizenship, reduced stereotypes and increased inter-cultural understanding, and improved students’ ability to apply what they have learned to the “real world.”
“I have honestly benefited so much from this wonderful opportunity, and can’t wait to continue it in the future!” said Stanford OHS 7th grader Lilly P. “The program has helped me both improve my skills in areas such as organization and communication, and enabled me to meet fantastic new people!”
With this year’s success of the Nashville Project Initiative, Ms. Stanford plans to formalize and expand the middle school peer tutoring program for next year.
“I really enjoy tutoring, and I have learned a lot from the experience,” said Stanford OHS 7th grader Sejong K. “This is the first time I have ever tutored anyone and I feel very motivated to continue helping others.”