Category: Life at Saga

In the first four weeks with Saga tutors, districts see what effective, high-impact tutoring looks like in action. Through co-design, structured onboarding, and Saga’s Quality Tutoring Framework, tutors build strong relationships, deliver aligned instruction, and create early academic momentum. District leaders gain confidence in program consistency, measurable student progress, and a scalable model that strengthens both student learning and the future educator pipeline.

This summer, the U.S. Department of Education issued new guidance to states on how to help schools better serve students under federal school choice provisions. The message was clear: families deserve access to strong educational options, and states must hold districts accountable for building interventions that actually move the needle on student learning.

At Saga Education, our tutors are more than just academic support—they’re future classroom leaders. That belief inspired the launch of our pilot initiative this past school year (SY24-25): the Future Teacher Cohort, a professional learning community designed to support Saga tutors who aspire to become full-time K-12 teachers.

The “Would You Rather” activity helps students practice communication, active listening, and critical thinking by posing dilemmas that spark discussion. It supports social-emotional learning by encouraging self-awareness and respectful dialogue. In math, it shifts focus from memorization to reasoning, real-world application, and collaboration. This playful, low-stakes format helps students see math as a tool and shared experience, building confidence, community, and essential problem-solving skills.

The "Choose One" activity is a brief conversation starter for tutoring sessions where students select from a set of images in response to a discussion prompt. This activity helps develop two key social-emotional learning competencies: self-awareness and relationship skills. By having students reflect on and share their choices in a judgment-free space, tutors can break the ice, foster meaningful connections, and create a supportive learning environment before diving into academic content.

Donnie Damon, a remote tutor with Saga Education, transformed his career by pursuing his passion for teaching. Through high-impact tutoring, he honed skills in flexibility, organization, and personalized student support. Donnie connected with students by tailoring lessons to their interests, fostering engagement and confidence in math. His experience solidified his path toward becoming a teacher and highlighted the transformative impact of tutoring on students’ academic journeys and personal growth.