Liberty students go ‘ALL In’ on tutoring in Lynchburg City Schools

Through a special partnership between Liberty University and Lynchburg City Schools, LU students are making a crucial impact on the lives of children academically challenged as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic’s effect on classroom learning.

The ALL In Tutoring initiative, started in 2023 by Gov. Glenn Youngkin through the Virginia Department of Education, aims to use high-intensity tutoring to improve the state’s low literacy and arithmetic-proficiency levels for elementary and middle school students. According to data released by Youngkin, over half of Virginia students in third through eighth grades failed or were at risk of failing the 2023 Standards of Learning. Another two-thirds of those children were in the same situation for mathematics.

To join the initiative, Liberty has partnered with Lynchburg City Schools for weekly tutoring. Liberty students can sign up for certain time slots at different schools through the university’s Christian/Community Service (CSER) Office. Through regular meetings, the volunteer tutors are helping the children repair any learning gaps and prepare them for success in the classroom.

“It’s nice for kids to see the same face regularly and build those relationships, supporting our staff, and helping to bring those ratios down,” said Whitney Boyd, family and community engagement coordinator for Lynchburg City Schools. “That’s where the magic happens. When I go from (adult-student ratios) of 6:1 to 2:1 or 1:1, you are really giving those students that one-on-one attention that can speak volumes in closing that gap.”

Spring 2025 marks the second semester of this partnership, with students from a variety of academic disciplines taking advantage of the opportunity to invest in the next generation.

Business junior Emmy Piwowarski has been serving in fourth- and fifth-grade classes at Sandusky Elementary School.

“Obviously, the main purpose of the tutoring is to help them academically,” she said. “I even had a kid tell me today he had gotten past a section that he couldn’t get past the last time we were learning together. That was really cool. … The relational aspect is a nice add-on. It makes it really fun. It’s really been a blessing getting to know them and also seeing them progress academically.”

Exercise science sophomore Alexis Voisard said she is grateful for the opportunity to serve the Lynchburg community and its children. In turn, the experience will help her as she pursues pediatric physical therapy.

“Giving back to the community — whether you are a college student, or a high school student, or whatever the case may be — giving back to the community in general is something that everyone should do at some point in their lives,” she said. “Everyone can learn from helping others.”

Other Liberty students said the tutoring sessions are helping them gain practical experience for their future careers.

Elementary education freshman Abigail Burner, who grew up helping her two younger siblings with homework, said she hopes to be a great role model to her students just as her former public school teachers were for her.

“It has been great. In (one of my education classes) we have been talking about impacting students even if you can’t physically talk about God by showing them light and love,” she said. “It’s amazing because some of them don’t get that at home. It’s good to show that to them to make sure they get the love and care they need. Watching them learn and teaching them is amazing.”

Piwowarski said she is thankful Liberty offered the tutoring opportunity to students from all academic disciplines.

“At Liberty, we have so much pouring into us from our professors and the community they’ve created here with community groups and Convocation. … What I’m starting to discover more is how we can pour out after we have received all those things. I saw this as one of those opportunities to actually go out into the community and engage with other people, kids, and teachers who may not be Christian or might not get to be in a community like we have at Liberty.”

This partnership continues Liberty’s longstanding reputation of community service in Lynchburg and reinforces the university’s commitment to meeting the needs of those in the local community.

“Liberty, in various departments, has really loved on Lynchburg City in a myriad of different ways, but they have been really good at hearing what is needed and being intentional about providing that thing,” Boyd said. “We are grateful for all the things they support us with across the board.”

Students interested in serving in elementary and middle schools can apply through the CSER dashboard.