Student Mentors Build Community for Remote Learners

Each day, five Roberson juniors and seniors help out in virtual Zoom classrooms led by Koontz teachers.

Featured Photos: 1. (Collage, Left) T.C. Roberson High senior and remote student Tyler Leik. 2. (Collage, Upper-Right) Tyler Leik uses the Zoom application to assist C.T. Koontz Intermediate fifth-graders during a remote class. 3. (Collage, Middle-Right) Fifth grade English teacher Ms. Julie Wimbish gives a thumbs-up to her remote learners. 4. (Collage, Lower-Right) Lizzie Draper works in a Koontz Intermediate office to connect her school to the community. 5. (Below) Julie Wimbish stands in her classroom at Koontz Intermediate.

By: Benjamin Rickert
BCS Communications Dept.

Remote students are building strong relationships through a mentorship collaboration between T.C. Roberson High and Charles T. Koontz Intermediate schools. Each day, five Roberson juniors and seniors help out in virtual Zoom classrooms led by Koontz teachers. They assist the younger students with projects, lead discussions and reading groups, serve as role models, and encourage them to be their best.

One mentor is Roberson senior Tyler Leik, who has learned remotely since last March. She originally decided to get involved in Julie Wimbish’s remote fifth grade English class to fulfill her volunteering goals. But the experience quickly became much more for her as she got to know the younger students and helped them in tangible ways. Months later, Leik still signs on daily to assist Wimbish and support the class.

“I think the biggest motivating factor for me is seeing how far everyone has come since November, and how much growth there has been throughout the class,” she said.

Ms. Julie Wimbish, C.T. Koontz Intermediate

According to Wimbish, Tyler doesn’t just show up and help — she comes prepared. She calls ahead to find out what the lesson plans are and reads any texts before class. Having Tyler as a class mentor has made lessons more interactive and helped students feel more connected while learning from home.

“Ty has a made a difference in my life,” said fifth-grader Zyona Watkins. “She has convinced me that I can do better and has been really nice.”

“Ty is an amazing helper — and person — in general,” added classmate Lillian Wright. “She takes time to help every kid and gives it her all.”

The remote mentorship concept originated with Koontz’s community and parent liaison Lizzie Draper, who wanted to further connect schools in BCS’ Roberson District. She reached out to Roberson High’s counseling team to identify student leaders who wanted to volunteer. Then, working with Wimbish and other Koontz teachers, she assigned five mentors a homeroom.

“Something I’ve always valued is giving my students connections with someone just a little further down the road of their academic journey,” Wimbish said, “but this has gone even beyond what I had hoped for.”

Fifth-grader Claire Lewis loves seeing Tyler in class each day.

“[Tyler] helps me understand things better than I ever did before,” she said. “She is awesome, funny, smart, and she is such a big help!”

After Leik graduates with the Rams this spring, she plans to study marketing and communications at a four-year university.

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View C.T. Koontz Intermediate's Facebook post about this topic. Special thanks to T.C. Roberson High counselor Felicia Carter for assistance with this story.

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