Three reasons students may be thankful for their student success coach

Yes, the holiday season can be stressful—making travel plans, wrapping up work before winter break, figuring out what gifts to buy, or just plain running out of steam as the year draws to a close.

November and December can be A LOT.

But this season also offers us a time for reflection and gratitude.

And we know that for many students in schools served by City Year AmeriCorps members, there are countless reasons they feel thankful for their student success coaches—tutors, mentors and role models who show up every day for students.

Here are three reasons why your students might appreciate you this holiday season:

1. Your unique personality and background

Across 29 U.S. cities, City Year AmeriCorps members serve in schools as student success coaches—trusted and trained young adults, ages 17-25, who provide academic, social and emotional support to students throughout the school day.

One of the most important elements that student success coaches bring with them is their unique personality—a sense of fun, energy or adventure into schools.

As near-peer tutors and mentors, SSCs are mature enough to offer guidance to students while young enough to relate to a student’s perspectives. This places them in a unique position within schools—an additional caring, consistent and present adult who students can rely on, joke with, and confide in.

“He motivates me. He’s the best person I ever met in the world…. I have no other people like him … that’s always on me, pushing me. Ever since I met with Justin the first time, it was a big difference for me. I felt like he cared for me.”

–Manny, Providence, RI, middle schooler, talking about City Year AmeriCorps member Justin

Every day, student success coaches (SSCs) partner with teachers to create welcoming and inclusive environments where students can engage more deeply with their learning, feel a sense of belonging, and reach their full potential.

Along with providing 1:1 tutoring and mentoring, City Year AmeriCorps members greet students when they come to school, run afterschool and extra-curricular programs, and host school-wide events and celebrations.

Student success coaches have some qualities in common—they tend to be empathetic, good at forging relationships and understand that mistakes are part of the learning process.

But each student success coach is also unique, with distinct backgrounds, strengths and personalities.

Did you know that this year, 3 out of 4 of our AmeriCorps members identify as people of color—as do more than 90% of the students we serve? Because the teaching profession is still overwhelmingly white—79% nationwide—it can be very impactful and meaningful for students to see role models in schools who look like them.

A research study, The Long-run Impacts of Same-Race Teachers, shows that Black students who have at least one Black teacher in elementary school are more likely to graduate high school and enroll in college.

Above all, student success coaches help students feel comfortable and valued, making school a place where they want to be.

2. Your irreplaceable influence

Each City Year AmeriCorps member brings something irreplaceable to their role. Your individuality and dedication help shape students’ experiences in meaningful ways—even if your impact isn’t always immediately obvious.

From providing academic support to offering mentorship and guidance, student success coaches play a crucial role in their students’ growth and development. Your influence can extend beyond the classroom, inspiring students to strive for their best and believe in their potential.

In some cases, your role as a City Year AmeriCorps member could have a life-changing effect on the students you serve.

Just ask Eric Santos, who decided to join City Year Providence in 2022-2023, serving his hometown as an AmeriCorps member. Santos said he was inspired and transformed by the impact his own “City Year” with student success coach Chen Zhang (City Year Providence ’12, ’13) had on him when he was in middle school. Eric was ready to pay it back.

In June 2023, Chen surprised Eric with a visit to his former student, captured on video.

“I knew I could be a mentor because that’s exactly what I had, growing up in middle school,” said Santos. “It helped me a lot, so I knew I could give that same energy back.”

3. Your consistent presence, support, and proximity

One of the most important aspects of having a City Year AmeriCorps member as a student success coach in schools is their consistent, positive, caring presence. Corps members are instantly recognizable by their signature City Year jacket, so even as corps members change each year, a sense of stability and continuity persists—students know they can count on their ‘City Year’ every year.

You and your teammates are there day in and day out, providing an additional layer of stability and reliability in your students’ lives. Whether it’s helping with homework, offering words of encouragement, or simply being a dependable figure who they can trust and rely on, your presence is a source of comfort and motivation.

Research has shown that student success coaches have a positive impact on students in terms of academics, social and emotional skills, and attendance.

“The center of our work in schools is building positive relationships with students. We know from years of feedback from our partner teachers and principals that City Year corps members often help to encourage and inspire some students to attend school more frequently and that their steady, caring and consistent presence in schools makes a difference.”

–Jenny Calixto, City Year Sacramento ’21,22, currently serves as the site’s learning and development manager.

Especially around the holiday season, when routines can be disrupted and emotions run high, the steady support of student success coaches is something students deeply appreciate.

Whether it’s a big smile, a listening ear, or a shared laugh, student success coaches make a significant impact on the daily lives of their students. The personal connection you forge with your students fosters a sense of belonging and community that helps to transform schools into places where everyone—students and adults—are able to do their best.

We are grateful for all that you do, and we know that your students are, too.