By Samuel Lam, Staff Writer
One of the amazing things about Mills is the strategically designed programs it provides to all students in order to be academically successful. Some of these programs are specifically designed to help students who face academic challenges and need extra levels of support. And who better to head off these programs than Mills’ one-and-only Student Success Coordinator, Stefany Peng?
Ms. Peng has worked a total of three jobs at Mills ever since she started in 2007. Initially working as a Student Data Analyst, she focused on analyzing data such as grade trends, scheduling, transcripts, and credits. However, after a couple of years, she came across a revelation: “I realized that there was an unmet need for servicing immigrant families arriving to Mills”. Thus, Ms.Peng began her transition to slotting into the job of English Learner Specialist, supporting immigrant families by translating and being an overall gateway into the Mills experience.
However, since the COVID-19 pandemic hit in March of 2020, the need for support and interventions has hit an all-time high for a large percentage of the Mills Vikings student body, leading to the introduction and creation of the Student Success Coordinator position. “As someone who prided myself in always providing exceptional service, it felt like the job was a perfect match”, Peng stated.
Ms. Peng has now been at Mills for 15 years and is in the second year of her third job here as Mills’ Student Success Coordinator. She has done wonders for Mills High School, mentoring and tutoring those who are struggling. Whether or not this is due to certain circumstances or hardships, everyone is accommodated and given what they need. All of these philosophies align with Mills’ goal to strive for excellence and help everyone succeed.
One outstanding program at Mills headed by Ms. Peng is our tutoring program. Within all San Mateo Union High School District schools are “Flex periods”: a scheduled time during the school day for students to catch up on homework with friends, see teachers for help, or just relax in the middle of a stressful day. Thanks to Peng, however, during Flex, Mills also offers tutoring to those who may be struggling in some of their classes or require additional help. Recruiting student volunteers to tutor during this flex time, she also coordinates with the student’s teachers in order to address their specific needs in order to help them get back on track in that particular class.
After school is another prime target for tutoring. At Mills, our administration, staff, and even students always emphasize student-athlete, student before athlete, ensuring that students must maintain a certain GPA in order to participate. However, with the need to juggle between both school and sports, it is very easy for one to fall behind. After-school tutoring exists to supervise and help athletes on academic probation in order to bring them back onto the path toward being eligible to participate in their respective sports.
Not only does Peng assist with tutoring around school, but she also supports several mentoring programs. Among these is a Peer Mentoring program. As the unofficial advisor of the Youth Supporting Youth Club, she coordinates between peer mentors for the club and freshmen in the Academic Language Development class or the ALD class. Many people in this ALD class come from non-English speaking backgrounds, so this program helps their academic and social growth, pairing them with someone who can help them adapt and learn.
Last but not least, according to Peng, the most intensive support she manages is the Viking Mentoring Program. Although Mills is a vital place for students to make connections with others, some may not feel comfortable making these connections or just overall struggle to do so. The Viking Mentor Program serves to match the students with a trusted teacher they feel a connection to. Over an 8-week mentoring process in which they meet once a week, the program’s goal is to help the student establish goals and better habits as they progress through their high school experience.
Ultimately, Peng contributes so much towards students’ wonderful experiences at Mills. Wearing different hats throughout her career at Mills High School, part counselor, part tutor, part mentor, part interpreter, and part family friend, to name a few, Peng has truly made a positive impact and difference in our community, always caring and putting in the extra mile so that all students feel supported and cared for.
