Testimonials

What current CORPS members have to say about the program:

CoaHCORPS IV:

Alexandra Chiu
Smith College, 2009
Government and East Asian Studies
Hometown: Malden, MA

Initially CoaHCORPS was not a position I had seriously considered taking. My feelings towards CoaHCORPS changed after my visit and interview, because even as a stranger I felt welcomed to a community with a strong purpose, and I instantly knew that CoaH was the place I wanted to be. I have never felt happier or more excited about any other decision I have made. Everyday at CoaH, whether with other staff or students, I spend some part of my day laughing and learning more reasons I love being a part of this community. It is a lot of work, but there is more support and dedication here, than anywhere else I have been.

Brook Bisrat Estifanos
Lafayette College, 2011
Neuroscience
Hometown: Addis Ababa, Ethiopia

As a person interested in testing the waters of urban education and contributing to the alleviation of educational inequality that plagues this nation, being a member of CoaHCORPS has been an excellent opportunity for me. In my eyes, CoaHCORPS is a close-knit group of idealistic young professionals who are dedicated to the attainment of our students' academic success in college and beyond. I have been able to witness that academic achievement, citizenship, public accountability, and teacher leadership are not just words splashed on everything at CoaH, but really beliefs and passions you can read on the faces of students, faculty, and staff alike. I will look forward to having a challenging, yet fulfilling year at CoaH.

Allison King
Stonehill College, 2010
History
Hometown: Canton, MA

Working at City on a Hill, and specifically as a member of CoaHCORPS has been an amazing experience. Working with a staff of tutors and teachers so dedicated to their cause, makes coming to work each and everyday enjoyable. How many people do you know, who can say that? Every day I work with 14 and 15 year old freshman, who manage to teach me just as much as I'm teaching them. Everyone in the building works towards the same goal: closing the achievement gap. There is a teamwork environment, and coming out of college, I wanted to work as part of a team. I found my team, and that team is the reason I've come back for a second year.

Emily McCaffrey
Boston University, 2011
Political Science
Hometown: Troy, NY

I decided to join CoaHCORPS because I was looking for an opportunity to work closely with students in an urban school, while also deciding if teaching is the right career for me. City on a Hill provides an incredible environment to build relationships with extraordinary students and passionate teachers. As a CoaHCORPS tutor I am meaningfully impacting my students' academic and personal success, while also learning about the crucial skills and structures needed to create an education system in which all children have the opportunity to achieve. Tutoring is one of the most challenging, relevant, worthwhile, and fun experiences I have ever had.

Damon Peykar
University of California, Santa Barbara, 2010
English
Hometown: Tehran, Iran

Working at CoaH was an unparalleled experience for me. Moving from the west coast to an urban high school in Boston was a big move, but my co-tutors, students, and the faculty filled me with a sense of support and belonging. Still, the job was extremely demanding. Eventually, those initial weeks and months passed, and students helped me learn how we could best spend our valuable time together.

Kayla Quinn
Bucknell University, 2011
Education and Sociology
Hometown: Boston, MA

I knew that upon graduating I wanted to become involved in public education AND return home to Boston, but I was not yet ready to handle a classroom of twenty plus students. When I came across this opportunity at City on a Hill I immediately knew it was exactly what I wanted--public education, in Boston, teaching, but not yet in a huge classroom. I was just so sure that this just had to be my first post-grad step, just HAD to be. Working at City on a Hill has been just as fantastic as I hoped it would be. It was absolutely the right next step.

Natashia Thomas
Simmons College, 2011
Management
Hometown: Brockton, MA

I chose the CoaHCORPS tutorial program because it seemed to be a unique tutorial program. I have had experience working with tutoring companies at multiple charter schools throughout the city of Boston in the past, which I loved. However, I did not have a chance to work with students at the capacity that CoaH now allows. Here I am able to work with the same students year round, in lieu of a semester, and track their progress and or improvement for each class.

For more testimonials from past tutors, click here.