Academic Enrichment Center Supports Students' Academic Success
April 24, 2025
Written by Emma Allen for The Eagle Edition.
In the midst of the busy ESD campus, junior Jaden Young was looking for solace last year, and he could complete his work in a quiet, spacious environment. Halfway through the first semester, he finally found what he was looking for: a safe haven in the academic enrichment center.
“The AEC gave me a quiet space to do my work with or without the help of teachers,” Young said. “It also provided me with whatever materials I required at the time.”
Upper School Learning Support Counselor Ashley Beck and former Clark Family Head of Upper School Henry Heil founded the Academic Enrichment Center (AEC). The initiative stemmed from a desire to offer easily accessible tutoring for students.
“We wanted to provide in-house tutoring by our faculty who know our curriculum and expectations,” Beck said. “We wanted to level the playing field and let everyone have the opportunity to get additional help and support during their study halls.”
The center is located in room 213, upstairs in the main schoolhouse overlooking the study commons. Students in middle and upper school can stop by the center for assistance from ESD’s teachers. Middle school students can work with middle school learning specialist Adam Jones every morning from 8:00 to 8:30 a.m. Upper school students may work with whichever staff member is working during the period they come in. The AEC schedule is attached to the daily upper school “heads up” email from Assistant Head of Upper School Max Augé. Along with the support of ESD staff, students in the National Honor Society volunteer to tutor at the center.
“I will have faculty members on their off periods and National Honor Society students staff AEC during the upper school schedule,” Beck said. “Students during their study hall can just stop by, no appointment needed [and] no cost to get support.”
When the AEC was first created in the 2022-23 school year, staffing was limited and a trial concept. Going into its third year, the growth in both staff and students has led to expansion of the space and overall growth of the facility. “This will be the start of our third year,” Beck said. “Two years ago, when we started it, it was kind of bare bones and not staffed as much.”
English Department Chair Tolly Salz played a significant role in increasing AEC staff members by involving the English department for additional support.
“[Salz] has her entire English department signed up to help staff the AEC,” Beck said. “She is a great partner with me and understands how valuable and important this resource is for our students.”
The English department was quick to agree to become AEC staff. Salz believes that teachers are responsible for maximizing ESD students' support. “We had several people at the very beginning who signed up,” Salz said. “And then this year, the English department had a conversation, and it means so much to us that every single person wanted to do it.”
As more students learned about the center, an increasing number utilized the resource. The first year saw around 99 tutoring sessions. Last school year, the number of tutoring sessions jumped to about 300.
“With that growth, we were enabled to enlarge the space and buy this fancy furniture,” Beck said. “Students can charge their laptops and print in here now while they’re in here to get support.”
The AEC also assists senior students with their college applications. During the fall, the center will be a resource for seniors navigating the complex college admissions process. “Lots of seniors popped in to get support on their college application essays from our own English department at no cost,” Beck said. “Seniors used it the first couple of months, when I had it stuffed with English teachers quite a bit.”
Through its growth and the dedication of its staff and supporters, the AEC has become a useful resource for students, helping them to achieve their academic goals and prepare for their future endeavors.
“I absolutely love the AEC,” Salz said. “I think it is a beautiful extension of who we are and what we do.”
