Group offering free online S.T.E.M. tutoring for students

A URI graduate is pulling young minds together to help high school students in science, math, engineering, and technology classes with free online tutoring because of the coronavirus pandemic.

The volunteer organization, Sprout and S.T.E.M., was founded by Victor Hunt after Johns Hopkins University released its scathing report last summer on the Providence Public School System.

“We felt we could integrate the talents of the universities with that of the local public schools,” Hunt said, a biology graduate. “Our target is historically disadvantaged urban public high schools.”

Hunt and a group of around 30 volunteers, which include college students, as well as medical students from Brown University, began in-person tutoring at Classical High school to help students with the sciences, a group of subjects that Hunt said is “a collection of subjects that’s hard to find help in.”

“Prior to COVID, we had the goal of, more or less, creating an after school program composed of area university students all of whom are proficient in some type of science,” he said.

Once the pandemic hit and students went to virtual learning, Hunt and his team took to the virtual classroom to help students adjust and is now offering free tutoring.

“Having to learn challenging science curriculum online, it’s something that’s very challenging,” he said. “I think tutoring is a valuable resource. Normally tutoring is an expensive service and we’re offering it free online right now. I think it’s especially beneficial during a time when students are forced to learn at home on the computer.”

Hunt said about 15 students are currently taking advantage of the online services.

Although any student can enroll in the free tutoring program, Hunt and Sprout and S.T.E.M. are also working with Woonsocket High school, where Hunt is a graduate, as well as Mount St. Charles Academy.

Anyone looking for information can visit Sprout and S.T.E.M.’s website at www.sproutandstem.org.