Tutor-a-Bull is a unique public / private partnership between the Michelin Golf Classic, the USF College of Education and the Hillsborough County Public Schools, designed to provide one-on-one tutoring for middle and high school students in the Hillsborough County Public Schools by USF College of Education students.  The USF tutors are a select group of students (primarily from the College’s Suncoast Area Teacher Training (SCATT) Honors Program). Tutor-a-Bull started in 2007 at the Joshua House, a shelter for neglected and abused children. It was so successful, the partners decided to pilot the program in local schools. In 2011-12, 400 students in 20 schools received over 22,000 hours of tutoring from 140 USF COEDU students.

Stipends are provided to all USF tutors participating in the program. It is a win-win for everyone! The middle and high school students get the personalized attention they need and, as a result, have demonstrated learning gains and improved self-esteem. The tutors gain hands-on teaching experience. It is having an positive impact on all involved parties and on our community. Studies show students who do well in school are less likely to be involved in crime, which is a benefit to the community and a goal of the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office, a key partner in this effort.

We have over 20 partners of this extremely successful program:

2011-2012 Community Partners

Bright House Networks

Dorothy Thomas Foundation, Inc.

Mr. Doyle Carlton, III

Chambers Medical Group, Inc.

Florida RV Trade Association

Florida State Fair Authority

Global Imaging Systems, Inc.

Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office - “Reach for the Stars”

Junior League Tampa, Inc.

Mr. Christopher Lykes

Lazydays Employee Foundation

Michelin Golf Classic, Inc.

NAPA Auto Parts, Inc.

New York Yankees Foundation, Inc.

Olin Mott Tire Company, Inc.

State Attorney’s Office – 13th Judicial Circuit

SunTrust Bank, Inc.

Suncoast Kid’s Foundation

Tampa Kiwanis Foundation, Inc.

Ms. Stella F. Thayer

Two Rivers Ranch

Zephyrhills Water

Ilene and Michael Berson

Michael Zanatian

Local business leader and philanthropist, Olin Mott, has been spearheading efforts to raise funds for this tremendously successful program. The Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office has donated a $100,000 “Reach for the Stars” endowment to the USF College of Education that is being used for tutoring services provided by SCATT students. The Sheriff's Office gave the College an additional $25,000 grant help support the Tutor-a-Bull program. (Pictured above, left to right - Sheriff David Gee, Dean Colleen Kennedy, and Olin Mott)