Student Support

Boston University Academy is a small school full of kind, thoughtful students who understand and appreciate the value of being themselves. We nurture this sense of acceptance; it’s part of how our students can work so hard and achieve so much. Students know their peers are on their side. BUA teachers and staff are the foundation of our caring community. We offer abundant support so students can find balance as they negotiate the rigors of school and the challenges of adolescence.

 

Student Support Team

Dr. White – Associate Head of School – rosew@bu.edu 

    • The Associate Head of School oversees all aspects of the student experience – including life in and out of the classroom and academic student support. 
    • Find Dr. White if you have questions about scheduling, course registration, or any aspect of student support. 

Ms. Atkinson – Director of Student Support and University Liaison – jillatk@bu.edu

    • The director of student support coordinates all aspects of student support, working closely with the school counselor, learning specialists, and academic support staff to fully support BUA students. The university liaison serves as a conduit of communication between BUA and the instructors at the University, providing feedback to the student, advisor, and parents or guardians. Additionally, the university liaison meets biweekly with juniors as part of junior class meetings to offer guidance on the transition to the University program and coursework.
    • Find Ms. Atkinson in Room 150H if you have questions about any aspect of student support or University classes.

    Ms. Weiskopf – School Psychologist – ssherpe1@bu.edu 

      • The school psychologist model at BUA is designed to support students’ academic and social-emotional needs throughout their high school experience. The school psychologist is available to assist any student needing additional support navigating challenges both in and out of the classroom. The counselor’s role focuses on the well-being and healthy development of students and strives to be easily accessible to all students and families. Consultation is also available to help students and families who may need outside resources and support.
      • Find Ms. Weiskopf in Room 153 if you are feeling stressed, overwhelmed, or having difficulty coping with an issue, or if you want help addressing concerns about peer relationships or conflicts.

      Ms. Mansour – Learning Specialist – rbuday@bu.edu 

        • The BUA learning specialists provide academic support and study skills across all disciplines, working to develop strategies for students with learning disabilities as well as those seeking academic coaching. They augment BUA’s student support team, enabling the school to complement its social-emotional support program with professional academic assistance. 
        • Schedule a meeting with Ms. Mansour (Room 150F) if you want one-on-one support to discuss academic, organizational, or study strategies. Ms. Mansour also works with students on their learning accommodations.

        Dr. Monica Alvarez – Director of Equity and Inclusion – malvar@bu.edu 

        The Director of Equity and Inclusion engages the community in learning about, celebrating, and supporting the diverse identities that comprise it.

          • Work with student-led alliance groups
          • Host ASM speakers and Mix It Up Lunches
          • Coordinate attendance at national and regional conferences
          • Help organize community-wide events

         

        Student Support Programs

        Counseling Program

        The goal of the program is to take individual students’ needs and learning styles into consideration and prepare students for a positive high school experience. The counseling program is designed to advocate for student needs and support all students’ academic and personal development. Aspects of the program include weekly class meetings, one on one support as needed, helping students acclimate to the BUA community, and assistance with transition between grade levels. The program involves outreach to and collaboration with University resources, outside practitioners, and ongoing communication with parents, faculty, and administration.

        Learning Accommodations

        In the case of students with documented learning differences, students will work with the school psychologist and learning specialists to coordinate support, as appropriate and possible within the structure of the program. For accommodations in University coursework, the school counselor collaborates with the Office of Disability and Access Services.

        Peer Advisors

        Peer advisors help new students transition into the BUA community. They introduce students to community norms and rules and serve as guides and resources throughout their first year at BUA. Peer advisors encourage community service and school spirit; they support and sponsor social activities; they help new students adjust to life at BUA.

        Peer Tutoring

        The goal of peer tutoring is to provide BUA students with practice and guidance in a subject area from peer tutors who have completed the relevant course. Peer tutors volunteer their time to help students who are having difficulty by meeting weekly for an hour to review concepts, study for tests, share study tips, and support better understanding of class material. Meetings are scheduled at the convenience of the tutoring pairs, either in-person during school hours or on Zoom outside of school hours. Students are encouraged to check with their teachers to determine whether peer tutoring would be a helpful support.

        • Would you like to SERVE as a Peer Tutor? Let us know by submitting this form.
        • Would you like to REQUEST to be paired with a Peer Tutor? Please tell us more by completing and submitting this this form.

        Questions? Please email the Student Support Team at buasst@bu.edu. 

        Writing Center

        The Writing Center is available to students who would like assistance with papers and other written assignments. Through the Writing Center, students may receive help with several components of the writing process, including syntax, mechanics, organization, and citation issues. The Writing Center is most helpful and productive when students bring something to work on (a draft or an outline) and specific questions about how to get the process started. It is also recommended that students bring the assignment instructions to the meeting.

        The writing center is staffed by three teachers this year: 

        Dr. Harrington

        • Dr. Harrington is available for Writing Center appointments Tuesdays 8:00 AM – 8:30 AM, Wednesdays 8:00 AM – 8:30 AM, Thursdays 8:00 AM – 8:30 AM, Fridays 8:00 AM – 10:00 AM, and by appointment at sherard@bu.edu.
        • Location: Room 209
        • Book an appointment here

        Dr. Larash 

        • Dr. Larash is available for Writing Center appointments Mondays 8:05 AM – 8:45 AM and 11:10 AM – 11:50 AM, Tuesdays 3:10 PM – 3:50 PM, Wednesdays 3:30 PM – 4:10 PM, Thursdays 11:50 AM – 12:30 PM, Friday 8:05 AM – 8:45 AM, and by appointment at plarash@bu.edu.
        • Location: Room 211
        • Book an appointment here

        Dr. Martinez

        • Dr. Martinez is available for Writing Center appointments Mondays 12:00 PM – 2:00 PM, Tuesdays 2:00 PM – 4:00 PM, Thursdays 2:00 PM –  4:00 PM, and by appointment at cmarti19@bu.edu
        • Location: Room 211
        • Book an appointment here

        Physics Help And Tutoring (PHAT)

        Physics Help And Tutoring (PHAT) offers BU Physics students dedicated time to get assistance with coursework and concepts. Students are encouraged to bring specific questions, assignments, or topics they find challenging. PHAT is most effective when students come prepared to engage actively with the material and seek guidance on problem-solving or understanding key physics principles.

        Mr. Dent

        • Mr. Dent is available for Physics Help And Tutoring appointments Tuesdays 12:30 PM – 2:00 PM and Fridays 1:30 PM – 3:00 PM.
        • Location: Room 114

        Homework Club

        Homework Club is a proctored, open study hall, a time to work quietly on assignments, or to meet with a BU tutor for help in particular subjects. Questions? Please email the Student Support Team at buasst@bu.edu.

        The hours for Homework Club (offered in the Silent Study Room):

        • Monday & Friday — 8:00 AM – 8:45 AM
        • Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday — 3:45 PM – 5:15 PM

        Subject area extra help with our BU tutors:

        • Biology Extra Help with Sarah – Fridays, 8:00-8:45am (Biology Lab, Room 215)
        • Chemistry Extra Help with Kailan – Thursdays, 11:00am-Noon (Chemistry Lab, Room 115)
        • Math Extra Help with John – Wednesdays, 3:45-5:15pm (Silent Study Room, during Homework Club hours)

        Mental Health and Wellness

        Our school psychologist is on campus daily for individual meetings with students and families. She also provides social-emotional programming and teaches our 9th- and 10th-grade Health & Wellness seminar. She is a resource for students and families seeking information or referrals for off-campus (outside) mental health support. To schedule an appointment with Ms. Weiskopf, sign up here using her Calendly link.

        If you’d like to talk about how to bring more awareness about mental health to our school, if you have ideas for our community as a whole, or even if you’d just like to meet and connect for yourself, please stop by during Ms. Weiskopf’s office hours: Fridays, 2:40-4:00 p.m.

        University Course Support – Educational Resource Center (ERC)

        Students seeking help in a University course should attend their instructor’s office hours. Additionally, students can request a tutor through the Educational Resource Center website (www.bu.edu/erc/). The ERC also offers other helpful programming to help students succeed in their BU classes, from writing and language learning assistance, to academic skill coaching and tutorials. Students can work with the university liaison on such a request. 

        General Inquiries

        Students and families who want to discuss resources and support further can email the Student Support Team at buasst@bu.edu.