About Us

Tutor-a-Bull

The Tutor-a-Bull program strives to increase motivation for learning by providing academic support to struggling middle and high school students in Hillsborough County.

Started by Mr. Olin Mott (1921-2013) in 2007, Tutor-a-Bull is an exceptional public/private partnership that provides aspiring USF teachers with one-on-one, small group, and classroom experience. Over the past decade, Tutor-a-Bull has served more than 4,000 students by providing almost 70,000 hours of individualized instruction in reading and math, conducted by more than 900 Tutor-a-Bull teachers-in-training.

Are you a USF student and interested in becoming a Tutor-a-Bull tutor? Learn more on the  David C. Anchin Center for the Advancement of Teaching's website. 

Learn More

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TUTOR TESTIMONIALS:

“I am really starting to get comfortable with my students. At first, I could tell they only looked at me as their tutor, but now they see me as someone who wants to help them to be successful in the classroom and in life.”

“This experience has been eye-opening and really life-changing. I got more out of my time with Tutor-a-Bull than almost any other experience during my education. Most importantly, I've learned what all kids are capable of if they just know that someone believes in them and won't let them give up. These kids made some bad decisions, but that doesn't mean that they don't care or can't change. I'll never judge a book by its cover, and I certainly won't allow my students' pasts dictate how I view them, how others treat them, or to skew their perceptions of themselves.”

“Overall, I have learned a lot from this program! One major take away I have had was learning the power of showing appreciation to students for hard work. By expressing your pride in a student for their actions, work or just who they are, not only motivate them, but it helps them build up self-esteem in areas that others may have broken down. I have also learned that students can be a huge help in teaching their fellow students. When my way of explaining something doesn't work, sometimes asking a kid who does understand it to explain it to me in their own words helps me break down what alternative thought process may translate better to the struggling student. My greatest success this semester was watching one of the students grow in confidence and capabilities as she learned to believe in herself!”

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Tutor-a-Bull Partners and Supporters

We are incredibly grateful for the support we receive from our school and community partners as part of the Tutor-a-Bull program.

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Make a Gift to the Tutor-a-Bull Program

For information about giving opportunities to the Tutor-a-Bull program, please contact the College of Education's Director of Development, Lisa Riley, at lisariley@usf.edu