PSS unveils ‘High-Dosage’ Peer Tutoring Program

Northern Marianas College, private and public school students-tutors gather on Monday at the Marianas High School as part of their two-week training for the High-Dosage Peer Tutoring Program of the Public School System. (PSS)

An innovative student-learning-and-teaching program pioneered by the Public School System officially launched its two-week orientation and training last June 14, 2021 at Kagman Elementary School.

Called the “High-Dosage Peer Tutoring Program,” this will give some 237 student-tutors the opportunity to assist lower grade public school students (K-12). These student-tutors—composed of students from the Northern Marianas College, PSS, and private schools received their training following the launch ceremony.

This program is a collaborative effort of the Office of the Commissioner of Education, Federal Programs Office, Human Resources Office, Office of Curriculum and Instruction, Office of Accountability, Research, and Evaluation, Office of Student Support Services, Office of Food and Nutrition, and Finance Office.

Education Commissioner Dr. Alfred B. Ada and his key management led the formal unveiling of this tutoring program. This was held at the Marianas High School cafeteria on June 21, 2021.

The High-Dosage Peer Tutoring Program will officially begin today, June 28, and these students-tutors will be working alongside classroom teachers in all of the school district’s elementary, middle and high schools on Saipan, Tinian, and Rota.

Assisting Jacqueline A. Quitugua (senior director of Curriculum and Instruction) and Amy Bohman-Blanco (English Language Learners program manager) in the implementation of this program are Dr. Rizalina Liwag (senior director of Accountability, Research, and Evaluation) as well as the OCI Team—composed of Asapmar B. Ogumoro (science program manager), Dr. Jessica B. Taylor (Career and Technical Education Program director), Giselle A. Butalid (Statistical Literacy analyst), Patricia R. Aguon-Cruz (administrative officer), and Jonas M. Barcinas (Chamorro and Carolinian Language and Heritage Studies program director).

Last June 21, the students-tutors received their trainings from Dr. Yvonne Pangelinan (senior director for Student Support Services), Arlene Lizama (finance and budget director), Lucretia Deleon Guerrero (human resource officer), Jesse Tenorio (State Infrastructure Technology director), Dr. Bobby Cruz (director of Instructional Technology), Lorraine Catienza (Distance Education program coordinator), and Ada.

This program is funded under PSS’ share of the federal Education Stabilization Fund, which is a component of the American Rescue Plan Act of 2020.

This tutoring program supports the district’s goals of providing learning opportunities to identified public school students and provide support for learning loss and instructional loss this school year.

The goals are: (1) each student will receive equitable, rigorous, relevant, and evidence-based instruction and support to meet their academic, social-emotional and wellbeing targets; (2) student growth to be guided by instructions and services informed by data and continuous improvement, preparing them for college and career; (3) students will receive instruction and support from high performing personnel; (4) students benefit from an efficient, effective and fiscally-responsible school system, and (5) students will develop positive social-emotional skills in a caring, safe and inclusive environment. (PSS)