Mariella Cusano

Shannon Donaldson teaches her AP Seminar/English II Great Books 2nd period class about stimulus analysis. Donaldson plans on leading a new student resource center this upcoming academic year.

A student resource center where students with difficulties in learning can come together is to be introduced to Xavier next year. 

Run by the English department’s Shannon Donaldson, the center will be designed for students who may need additional assistance to succeed in their high school careers.

“I really want it to be a resource for any student,” Donaldson said.

Donaldson was originally inspired to be a part of a center for students with dyslexia, a learning disability that involves difficulty in reading and writing. One way she plans to help dyslexic students in this center is by offering to read test questions aloud. 

“I have a daughter with dyslexia. That’s how I came to that, because I had to learn how to help her,” Donaldson stated. 

Although the center was created for students with learning disabilities in mind, it is accessible for any student who would benefit from extra help.

“You do not need to have a diagnosed ‘learning disability’ to come,” said Brittany Ecker, Xavier’s principal. “Everybody is welcome.”

Some elements of the center will be adopted from other Catholic schools, like St. Mary’s, Bourgade and Seton, that have shown benefits to students. 

“Mrs. Donaldson and I have been going to different schools to look at their programs to see what works well for them and what might fit well into Xavier knowing our culture and our students,” Ecker said. 

The center can help with all disciplines, from organizational skills and note-taking strategies, to extended test-taking time and a peer-tutoring program.

Ecker and Donaldson explained that student members across all different honors societies would be implemented.

“There’s research that shows that peer tutoring is very helpful with student learning,” Donaldson said.

Mu Alpha Theta, a math honor society, member Lucciana Nuñez may potentially participate in the center in the upcoming 2025-2026 school year as a peer tutor. 

“I feel like math is a very hard subject,” Nuñez said. “Definitely rely on your upperclassmen.”

Ultimately, the resource center will be there for anyone who needs it, whether it be extra help on a physics test, or finding the best way to keep track of homework assignments.