As they arrived to USN at the start of this school year, some high schoolers found themselves joining USN’s youngest students.
The Lower School Teaching Assistant program, spearheaded by Cate Laird ‘26 and Maeve Stevenson ‘26, has given some high schoolers a chance to help out in lower school classrooms during their free periods. Working with teachers, select high school students are able to serve as classroom helpers while also gaining insight into the daily responsibilities of educators.
Beyond practical experience, the program also rewards the high school students with the opportunity to form connections with younger students and become positive role models within the school community.
This program was inspired by a previously existing program that dissolved during the COVID-19 pandemic, and was revived in 2024-2025 to connect two divisions of our school that otherwise have very little structured overlap.
Laird hopes that high school students will enjoy a “meaningful experience working with kids and get a feel for teaching” and that lower school students “can look up to their helpers and receive a positive role model within their community.”
The program benefits faculty as well. Lower school teachers receive help managing their classrooms and an extra set of hands and eyes. In addition to practical experience, the 11 participating high schoolers received independent study style credit for their efforts. With benefits for everyone involved, the program rewards all those who volunteer to participate, and has the potential to inspire high school students to pursue a career in teaching or childcare.
The program also helps students develop important soft skills that are valuable in any career path. Working with younger students requires patience, adaptability, and strong communications skills. Teaching roles prepare students for leadership both inside and outside of the classroom.
Laird has received plenty of praise from faculty and students across divisions.
“The teachers appreciated the help, lower school students loved their TA, and the high school students had so much fun,” Laird said.
The Winthrop Model School, from which USN descends, was founded on the principles of making strides in innovative and nontraditional teaching. This program continues that legacy and demonstrates the love for community shared by so many at USN.
As the program continues to grow, it has the potential to once again become a lasting tradition that demonstrate exactly why USN is a unique and special place to learn.
