Photo by Madison Miller.
Ben Peinhardt 2014
Ben Peinhardt started Student Teachers, a student-run tutoring business.
After a year of tutoring fellow students for extra money, Ben Peinhardt had an idea. He would start his own tutoring business.
“I saw an opportunity to do more with it, to help out rather than just make some quick cash,” the Spain Park High School junior said.
This year, Ben is launching Student Teachers, an organization to help students across the Birmingham area. Ben started out tutoring with math subjects such as geometry, algebra, trigonometry and math ACT prep. Through what seemed like just an after-school job, he discovered a talent and love for helping his classmates academically.
“Feeling stupid is one of my biggest insecurities,” said Cecelia Crick, a former tutoring subject. “Ben is so patient and makes sure that you don’t feel dumb, which, to me, is just as important as the material he’s teaching.”
When developing his idea for Student Teachers, Ben wanted to be able to help students who need assistance in any subject.
To make this possible, he needed more student experts. He hired seven Spain Park students who maintain high GPAs and participate in AP or advanced classes to be tutors.
“I know exactly what they’re good at,” Ben said. “I can tell them who to tutor based on what subject they need tutoring in.”
Along with maintaining a student-run staff, Ben saw importance in giving part of the proceeds to charities. Each session with a Student Teacher tutor is $20 per hour. Out of the $20, the tutor keeps $15 and $5 is taken out. Half of the $5 goes to a charity fund of the tutor’s choice, and the other half goes to a fund set up to sponsor the business’ future expansion.
Right now, Student Teachers helps to sponsor Boy Scouts of America, Makena Children’s Foundation, Pampered Parrots Avian Rescue and Changed Lives Christian Center.
“I’m just one of those weird people who likes to help out,” Ben said.
Student Teachers has helped students across the Birmingham area in age groups up to sophomore year of high school. Partial tutoring will be available for juniors. Once the business has a solid foundation, Ben hopes to be able to give more.
In the coming months, he will work with fellow Spain Park student Zoe Shore to provide tutoring for Birmingham’s inner-city students free of charge. If enough funds are raised, Ben also hopes to provide free school supplies for students in need. However, he realizes that in order to give, Student Teachers must expand its profits.
“The more it expands, the more we can give to charity.” Ben said. “Right now, that’s our innovation limit.”
Like any high school junior, Ben is also planning for his own future. He hopes to keep the business through college, but is torn between a career in mechanical engineering or education.
“I really love tutoring. I really love teaching,” Ben said. “But I also want to build incredible things.…It’s a tough decision.”
For more information on Student Teachers, email StudentTeachersAL@gmail.com or call 641-0594.
