The Dick Hillier Tutoring Program targets second through fourth grade students in the Rio Rancho area. This is a unique tutoring program in that it uses the student’s own teacher as the tutor. Participating teachers are paid a small stipend to tutor their own students two hours a week for fifteen weeks. Students are tested at the beginning of the year to determine reading level and at the end of the year to measure improvement.

Participating schools were Puesta del Sol, Maggie Cordova, Colinas del Norte and Sandia Vista Elementary Schools. Seven teachers participated with thirty three students. Twenty eight students met their learning goals, four students significantly surpassed their goals and one student improved, but did not meet their goals due to issues outside the classroom.

Having this program has allowed us to work with students from our individual classrooms who normally do not receive support.” -Teacher at Sandia Vista Elementary School