At Fort Valley State University (FVSU), students seeking academic support have a true champion in De’vonte Payton. With over 500 hours of tutoring completed on Knack, De’vonte has made a lasting impact by helping his peers succeed. His dedication, expertise, and passion for education set him apart as one of the top tutors at FVSU.
In this blog, we’ll share De’vonte’s insights from an exclusive interview where he reflects on his tutoring journey, the lessons he’s learned, and the advice he has for fellow students looking to excel.
Knack: Tell us about yourself!
De'vonte: I'm a junior Chemistry and Math major at FVSU. I'm from Miami, Florida. A fun fact about me is that I'm on the volleyball team here, and we were the first HBCU to make it to the NCAA Division I tournament for volleyball.
Knack: How did you hear about Knack and why did you decide to become a tutor?
De'vonte: I was tutoring during my freshman year, but I wasn’t getting paid. I performed well in classes, and other students saw that, so they came to me for help. Since I had the time, I tutored them. During my sophomore year, I went to an honors meeting and our Knack representative was there talking about Knack. I went up to her and asked more about it. After speaking with her, I started working for Knack.
Knack: Tell us about your experience as a tutor on Knack so far.
De'vonte: I usually conduct one-on-one sessions but have led a few large group sessions. However, I prefer one-on-one interactions because many students value that personal connection, especially in face-to-face settings. When I meet with them, I always know what we previously covered, which makes the sessions more effective. I only do online sessions when I'm off campus, such as on weekends when I’m home.
By the beginning of this year, I became the leader of a group of tutors, allowing me to delegate students to other Knack tutors. This helped distribute the workload and expand my reputation. As I tutored more students, my demand increased, and I regularly exceeded 15 hours per week.
I’ve been working closely with a Knack representative for a while now. She gave me leadership over a group of Knack tutors, particularly for STEM subjects, and it's now an official role.
Since our chemistry and math programs are small, I know most of the tutors. Our representative recognized this and encouraged me to help them network and connect with students seeking help. Each week, I reached out to students to inform them about available tutoring, whether from me or another tutor. When students requested help, I referred them to a tutor I trusted.
Knack: What is your favorite part about using Knack?
De'vonte: The organization would be my favorite part, a hundred percent. For online sessions, the virtual classroom is especially helpful since I can write on the screen instead of using another website to share my screen. It also makes sharing notes much easier. I have a hard time remembering what topics we covered after a couple of days, so reviewing the recaps helps refresh my memory.
Knack: What are your career goals after graduation?
De'vonte: I plan to pursue an MD/PhD. I've always wanted to be a neurosurgeon, and my PhD will focus on neurotoxicology. Currently, I’m conducting neurotoxicology research on the potential causes of Parkinson’s disease, and I hope to continue this work during my PhD. I want to attend UCSF because of its exceptional medical and graduate programs. Their neurology and neurotoxicology research is extensive, making it the perfect place to advance my studies and career.
De’vonte’s journey as a Knack tutor at FVSU is a testament to the power of peer learning. His dedication to helping others, combined with his extensive experience, has made a meaningful impact on the students he’s worked with. Whether it’s building confidence, mastering difficult concepts, or fostering a love for learning, De’vonte’s story showcases the incredible value of tutoring.
