What is a high-impact tutor?

What’s the best way a tutor can make an impact on student success? It’s pretty simple—make a connection. Building relationships is the top factor that sets a high-impact tutor apart from others. 

The truth is that if you want to become a tutor, not all tutoring jobs are built the same.  

At Kelly Education, our tutors are specifically trained to be high-impact tutors. Through one-on-one or small group instruction, our tutors build relationships and deliver instruction that’s tied to the existing classroom curriculum.  

Why high-impact tutoring is different.

High-impact tutoring is an educational delivery model that is the gold standard in tutoring. When the tutor delivers intensive, relationship-based, and individualized instruction, student achievement is greater. That’s because the tutor is fostering students’ social and emotional growth via a structured program in concert with the teacher. 

While the precise application varies from district to district, high-impact tutoring programs share a few key characteristics: 

• Consistent and substantial tutoring sessions 

• Strong relationships between students and their tutors 

• Integration within the school environment and alignment with the curriculum 

• Oversight of and support for tutoring staff to ensure high-quality instruction 

Let’s examine the pillars of high-impact tutoring. 

Consistency

High-impact tutoring relies on sessions with the same tutor at least three times a week. A consistent schedule helps tutors and students build trust in one another, which fuels a positive relationship and accountability. 

Tutoring sessions should also maintain a consistent group size. Tutoring is most effective when the student-to-tutor ratio is kept at or below 3:1. In smaller, consistent groups, tutors can tune into each student’s specific learning needs and tailor lessons accordingly. This approach allows tutors to recognize learning patterns and support students in mastering complex concepts. 

Relationships

To achieve academic success, tutors and students must build healthy, trusting relationships. As previously mentioned, relationships demand consistency, but there is much more to it than that. Tutors must have cultural competency and empathy for the experiences of the students they serve. 

Kelly Education tutors work to build healthy relationships with students, communicate openly, and provide targeted feedback. Their impact far exceeds the duties listed in the tutor job description; as they inspire students to feel excited about learning and proud of their academic accomplishments.  

Integration

Tutoring programs are more effective during the school day because students are less likely to attend after-school sessions. After-hours programs create equity and accessibility barriers, due to a lack of reliable transportation and conflicts with extracurricular activities, work, or family obligations. Additionally, the extended school day can reduce student motivation to participate.  

In high-impact tutoring, sessions are closely aligned with classroom instruction. This boosts the confidence of students who are struggling. When tutors use the same materials and lesson plans, students can more easily connect. For effective curricular integration, tutors collaborate with teachers and access engaging instructional materials that adhere to state standards. 

Data-driven

Data and oversight play a vital role in demonstrating the effectiveness of high-impact tutoring. Tutors leverage formative assessments to identify students’ strengths and tailor lesson plans to address areas needing improvement. They also use data from assessments to ensure that students meet standard learning outcomes. 

Tutor Oversight

As in any job, there’s always opportunities to improve your skillset. Tutors are no different. Kelly Education tutors receive continuous development and support. We provide regular weekly check-ins for coaching to drive success. We also offer professional development guidance and webinars on topics like instructional strategies, managing behavior, and many others. 

Why become a Kelly Education tutor?

When districts face challenges in recruiting and retaining tutors, their programs often experience inconsistency and a lack of strong relationships between students and tutoring staff.  

Many schools turn to full-time teachers to fill tutoring vacancies, but these educators are often overextended and at risk of burnout. Other options, such as community volunteers or peer students, may lack the necessary skills or long-term commitment to deliver the consistency that effective programs require. 

When you work as a Kelly Education high-impact tutor, you’ll receive onboarding, training, and ongoing professional development opportunities to help you effectively deliver the high-impact tutoring model. 

Additionally, our partner districts and their students benefit from a vetted, accountable, and consistent tutoring team. Our tutors are student champions. They won’t just complement the classroom — they elevate the learning experience. 

Apply to be a tutor with Kelly Education and our partner districts.

Ready to apply to become a tutor? Our team is excited to help you get started. Don’t simply become a tutor; become a high-impact tutor who helps the kids in your community achieve their learning goals. 

Are you looking for a tutoring or other education job near you? Fill out our brief interest form, and one of our recruiters will contact you to answer your questions and share more about opportunities to work with one of our school district partners.