The school day hasn’t officially started, but Teachers Tessie Aversa and Noah Blanton’s classrooms at Eastbluff Elementary are buzzing with activity. Students sit in pairs with a manilla folder and books.

Sixth-grader Samantha Matkov listens intently as third-grade student Alina Hernandez reads aloud softly, her finger moving under the words on the page of her book about big cats. As Alina finishes a chapter about cheetahs, Samantha offers positive feedback and an encouraging smile. 

Samantha and Alina are part of the new Student Tutors Accelerating Reading Success (STARS) program at Eastbluff. Started in February, STARS pairs students in upper elementary grades with their younger counterparts as reading buddies. For 30 minutes per day three times a week, students in third, fourth, fifth, and sixth grades lead first-, second-, and third-graders through activities meant to strengthen the younger students’ English Language Arts (ELA) skills. The student tutors strengthen leadership skills and act as role models.

The STARS program, made possible in partnership with the school PTA, is a powerful reflection of the school's commitment to student success. Through this initiative, dedicated upper-grade tutors support their younger buddies in building reading skills and confidence. “It not only benefits emerging readers, but also provides valuable leadership and community service opportunities for our student tutors. Plus, reading is more exciting when you’re with a friend,” Aversa said.

Aversa and fellow Teacher Noah Blanton use the district curriculum and resources to develop lesson guides and learning packets, which guide tutors through their time with their buddies. Tutors help their peers practice grade-level-specific sight words, review spelling patterns, listen for challenges when reading aloud, ask questions to determine reading comprehension, and encourage writing skills. 

For sixth-grade student Jack Campbell, the tutoring role seems a natural fit. “My mom is a teacher here. Teaching is in my blood,” he said.

To participate in the program, the tutors had to complete an application and submit a resume that listed their leadership experience. They were then interviewed by Aversa and Principal Daphne Eby, who asked the students to elaborate on the ways they fit the school’s PRIDE motto (“Eastbluff Otters are Prepared, Respectful, have Integrity, are Determined, and demonstrate Excellence”). Students selected as mentors commit to arriving at school early for the duration of the 11-week program.

“Being a mentor means you have to be able to problem-solve, so we asked them a lot of leadership-focused questions. The students came into their interviews totally prepared. It was very impressive,” Aversa said.

Samantha admits she was a little nervous about the interview, but she enjoys helping others. “I struggled in reading, and now, I’m like a professional reader. I’m helping my buddy learn so she can be a professional, too,” she said.

While the STARS program is still in its early stages, Aversa says there are already obvious signs of improvement. Younger students were selected for STARS based on recommendations from classroom and reading support teachers to help build fluency and reading comprehension while also growing their confidence.

Programs like STARS reflect Newport-Mesa’s commitment to early literacy as a foundation for lifelong learning and student success. By pairing younger students with peer tutors, the program builds reading skills and confidence while fostering leadership, mentorship, and a sense of community. Strong early literacy is closely tied to long-term academic achievement, reduced grade retention, higher graduation rates, and greater opportunities in life, making programs like STARS an essential part of the district’s mission to inspire, educate, and elevate every student.