Knightly News

Need a little extra help with homework? Want an extra set of eyes on that paper before submitting it? Need a concept explained one more time? There’s an app for that!

In our Middle School and Upper School, students have many opportunities to get help during the school day. There are opportunities to ask questions in class, to see their teachers for extra help during Flex or Office Hours. We have peer tutors, the Writing Center, on-campus professional tutors, and we can refer students and families to approved off-campus tutors and agencies for extra help after school. But what if you just have a quick question and need a little help? What if you are struggling with a homework assignment later in the evening? What if hiring an in-person tutor just isn’t in the budget?

To fill that gap, Episcopal has started a two-year partnership with Paper, which provides on-demand, unlimited online academic support - any time, any day, 24/7, no appointment needed! Through a two-year grant, Episcopal is able to offer this service to all of our students in grades 6th -12th at no additional cost to our students and families. 

Paper’s tutors are educators and content specialists trained in the socratic method. This means that a Paper tutor will guide students by asking questions and will help clarify points of confusion, but will not provide answers to students. In addition, because online safety is so important, all of their tutors are employees of Paper, not freelance consultants. They undergo extensive background checks, Paper strictly adheres to all student data privacy laws, and student information provided to tutors is limited to the students first name, last initial, and grade level.

So what does this mean for our students at Episcopal? Middle School and Upper School students can get live help in over 200 subjects and four different languages in mathematics, the sciences, history, English, world languages, economics, computer science, and business. Using chat, their digital whiteboard feature, or by uploading images of assignments to Paper’s platform, students can ask questions and get connected with a live tutor in seconds. Students can also submit any written work, from creative writing to lab reports to college application essays, and will receive feedback within 24 hours.

Our teachers are kept in the loop at every step. Faculty will be able to review tutoring sessions and essay reviews, including a record of what questions students asked and any feedback given on written work. This allows our teachers to know what kind of help their students are seeking, giving insights into what topics students may be struggling with.

Helping our students grow as scholars and develop a deep love of learning is at the heart of our mission. This partnership with Paper is just one more way that Episcopal strives to support our students as they grow academically.

Dr. Sara Fenske pursued a career in education because of her love of science and desire to share that passion with others. Knowing the impact a great education can have, Sara chose to focus on teaching and curriculum design, with a focus on continuous improvement. Dr. Fenske joined Episcopal as a member of the science faculty. In 2018 she transitioned into the role of Dean of Academics and is now the Assistant Head of School for Academic Affairs. In this position, Dr. Fenske works collaboratively with the Head of School, division heads, department chairs, and faculty members to ensure Episcopal’s continued strong and relevant academic performance.  Before joining Episcopal, she was the Science Department Chair and taught at Linden Hall in Pennsylvania. She has a Bachelor of Science in cell and molecular biology from the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, and a Ph.D. in biology from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology in Cambridge, Massachusetts.

The Episcopal School of Baton Rouge 2024-2025 application is now available! ​For more information on the application process, to schedule a tour, or learn more about the private school, contact us at [email protected] or 225-755-2685.