Student Helps Student

The MARC Offers an Opportunity for Peer Education

Photo by Sarah Samaan / Maclay Andalusian

The Maclay Academic Resource Center (MARC) is a free source of academic help available to any Maclay Upperschool student. Whether it’s a quick clarification or a lengthy tutoring session, the MARC is the ideal hotspot for getting academic questions answered. The MARC meets in Langford Hall during community time and after school on A days except Fridays. 

“The MARC is free academic help provided for upper school students,” english teacher Lauren Fantle said. “It's walk in, come in as needed. This is supposed to be a place where students want to come and get the help they need then go about their day.”

Along with Fantle, students can get help from science teacher William Perry and math teacher John Gussaroff. While Gussaroff isn’t present at the MARC as often as Fantle and Perry, he’s still just as dedicated to providing his students with assistance. Whether it be for nightly math homework, standardized test prep, college essay review or an upcoming test, each of these teachers is committed to helping students when they feel stuck. 

“I especially enjoy getting to know students who I never would have met before,” Fantle said. “I get to revisit with students who I had as a freshman, and I get to continue those relationships that were started when the student was 14.”

MARC educators have found that math is a common struggle for students who seek their assistance. Both Perry and Gussaroff specialize in this department, so students can trust that their math related questions will be answered. 

“Math is the biggest [struggle for students], and luckily we have lots of help in that area,” Fantle said.

In addition to teacher help, there are also student peer tutors present who are happy to assist as needed. Sophomores Ava Abbott and Kai Okui are peer tutors who specialize in math, giving students an extra level of support. 

At the beginning of the 2024-25 school year, Fantle launched the Peer Education and Tutoring Program, and it has been a valuable addition to the MARC. Leadership and social skills are only a couple of the benefits that come out of a dedicated membership.

“When students are teaching they're learning that material better themselves,” Fantle said. “They're learning social skills, and they're learning how to lead in a way that will hopefully make them more confident in other areas of their lives.”

Peer tutors also benefit on the academic level. When there’s a student relying on the tutor to relay information, the tutor is more likely to put more effort into studying. This results in higher grades for both the student and tutor.

“[Tutoring at the MARC] gives me a really, really good incentive to study to make sure I know what’s happening in my classes so that I can then help other people,” Abbott said.

The tutoring program also fosters connections between student and tutor, connecting like-minded people.

“I made a lot of friends, and it’s just fun overall to do with other peer tutors,” Abbott said.

The Peer Education and Tutoring Program is still in the process of growing, and applications are available for students who want the opportunity to grow through the education of others and are willing to put in the necessary time and effort.

“The application process is really to come to me, and then we have a discussion,” Fantle said. “I have a little bit of paperwork to do, but really we want students who are ready to sacrifice that time. We want students who have at least one subject that they're pretty excited about, and we really like it when students are in an academic team.”

Both the MARC and the Peer Education and Tutoring Program are valuable resources on Maclay’s campus that students continue to benefit from.