October 15, 2021
Mesa Student Raine Porter, Awarded 2021 National Tutor of the Year
By Jennifer N. Kearns & Lauren Dorst
Mesa College student Raine Porter is the newest recipient of the College Reading &
Learning Association’s (CRLA) Outstanding Tutor Award. Established in 1995 by CRLA’s
International Tutor Training Program Certification (ITTPC) committee who review over
1200+ certified programs. The award is given annually to one undergraduate peer tutor,
who contributes to the academic success of their peers. CRLA felt that Raine was a
“true representative of what an outstanding tutor should be,” motivating and inspiring
others through her passion and dedication to her work.
In her winning 2021 application, Raine writes about transitioning to remote learning
and how the pandemic impacted her approach to online tutoring. She explains, “The
idea of ‘meeting the student where they are’ and indicating that we understand what
they are feeling, facilitated my ability to connect with students despite being in
an online space.”
Raine credits the Mesa Tutoring and Computing Centers (MT2C) with easing the adjustment
to online tutoring. MT2C serves thousands of students each year, and staff put time
and effort into training tutors like Raine to meet the diverse and changing needs
of her peers. Raine notes, “The training sessions that impacted me most were the ones
centered around empathy and student outreach. These two aspects helped me discern
when students’ frustrations were related to the educational content or having to learn
in a new online environment.”
Above all, Raine sought to form compassionate relationships with the students she
tutors to inspire their persistence and sense of belonging. “I found that students
are more open to seeking assistance when they form interpersonal connections,” she
says.
Raine has been a tutor at Mesa College for just over 2 years. A native of Okinawa,
Japan, her family moved to San Diego when her father got stationed here as a marine.
Upon enrolling at Mesa, she recalls going to the STEM Center to study and ultimately,
feeling compelled to assist other students with their schoolwork. According to her
MT2C supervisors, Raine is the embodiment of the ideal tutor because she has improved
in all areas: Tutoring, Leadership, Andragogy, and Equity. Raine has thrived as a
Mentor Tutor, Embedded Tutor, Chemistry Tutor, and Leader in Mesa’s Tutoring and Computing
Centers (MT2C) program.
MT2C Program Coordinator Mark Manasse, states, “Anyone who has ever interacted with
Raine as a colleague, tutor, or friend knows what an amazing human being she is...and
how deserved this prestigious honor is as well.”
Raine’s tutoring training and the strategies she has developed while connecting with
Mesa College students will prepare her as she pursues a career as a community college
Chemistry Professor. She reflects, “As I continue to learn and prepare for my future
goal, I am now confident that I will be equipped with the knowledge to support students
with equitable practices.”
Tags: MT2C, National Tutor of the Year, Outstanding Tutor Award, Raine Porter, Press Release, Mesa Tutoring and Computing Centers
