Back to school checklist for tutors, mentors and role models

So, you’re about to start your first year as a tutor, mentor or student success coach, working closely with K-12 students for the first time. You may have those familiar back-to-school jitters—part excitement, part nervousness, part wondering what to expect.

Well, we have some experience with those feelings—and some practical tips from thousands of young adults who have stood in your shoes, asking themselves what they needed to get the school year off to a good start and succeed in their roles.

Here’s a helpful back-to-school checklist:

Show up.

Believe it or not, your physical presence in schools makes a difference. When you show up for students every day, demonstrating consistency and caring, they come to trust and rely on you.

A simple “Good morning,” or a quick smile, or asking how a test went that day goes a long way to help students feel valued, seen and cared for.

“We are on the ground with the students and notice things,” said City Year alum Matthew Zittle (Washington D.C. ’12, ’13), who currently works as senior director of people and operations at City Year D.C.

“We form strong bonds with students, and they trust us. This trust is something that we don’t take lightly. Students know that they can trust whoever is wearing the City Year jacket. This is partly due to City Year’s consistent presence in schools, but also because AmeriCorps members show up every day with genuine interest in the lives of the students they serve.”

Never underestimate the power of your proximity to students in schools. You may still be learning how to tutor, mentor and serve as a student success coach—and that’s fine—but you already know a lot about how to help people feel a sense of belonging and connection. Maybe you’re felt both included and excluded during your life—and you understand how uplifting one of those emotions is, and how crushing the other can be.

Build positive relationships over time.

When you serve in schools with City Year, you are part of a diverse team of other AmeriCorps members and an Impact Manager, who helps you navigate relationships and school norms.

You partner closely with your classroom teacher throughout the school year.

Most of all, you connect with the students you serve.

All of these aspects of your work as a mentor, tutor and role model rely on your ability to build positive relationships within the schoolhouse.

“Building authentic relationships with the students is really helpful,” said Denver teacher Ms. Mosely, talking about working with City Year AmeriCorps member Hannah Platt.

“And I think sometimes the students, in a good way, they see a difference between the teacher and the corps member, and they know they can trust the corps members to talk about certain things that they might feel a little uncomfortable talking to their teacher about. So, if something does come up that I need to know about, then corps members can report back to me, and we can take the necessary steps to address the issue.”

Your near-peer status, mature enough to offer guidance yet young enough to relate to students’ perspectives, gives you an ability to build “developmental” relationships with students—which Search Institute calls “relationships that help young people thrive.”

For some students, you may become the reason they want to come to school that day. And that means something.

Ask for help.

While it’s not always easy to ask for help, when you’re an adult working with children and young people, no one always has all the answers.

Tutoring, mentoring and supporting students is collaborative, and requires the time, patience and attention of multiple adults—teachers, parents, support staff, and more.

Throughout the school year, you’ll receive ongoing professional development, enabling you to become a more effective academic tutor and mentor. And you’ll receive coaching and feedback from City Year staff.

You’re not in this alone. It’s okay to ask questions. You’re learning and growing right alongside your students and supporting them isn’t always easy. Don’t hesitate to reach out to your partner teacher, a guidance counselor or another educator in school for advice and feedback.

Take care of yourself.

The cliché “put on your own life preserver first” is famous for a reason—it’s true. You won’t be able to help students, partner with your classroom teacher or support your teammates if you are burnt out, running on fumes, or feeling overwhelmed yourself.

Self-care may be an overused term these days, but its meaning is important—everyone needs time and space to relax and recharge—whatever that means for you.

“It’s important to create healthy boundaries between you and your students. I set a clear boundary at the beginning of my service because I felt that was the best way to stay “healthy,” says City Year alum Sarai (Los Angeles ’23).

“As corps members, we also have lives outside of the classroom, and we all have stuff going, so creating that boundary worked for me.

Maintaining your mental and physical health during your year of service is vitally important. City Year has intentionally ramped up its resources and support for our AmeriCorps members and staff in recognition of how central our holistic well-being is.

Learn more about serving with City Year.