Education can be a powerful tool for transformation, particularly for individuals who have faced systemic barriers in their lives. One remarkable example of this is the growing movement to include formerly incarcerated individuals as tutors and educators, a practice that challenges the stigmas associated with incarceration while creating powerful connections between educators and students. The Rebel Academy, founded by Lauren Zavrel, is one organization at the forefront of this movement.
In this blog post, we’ll explore the effectiveness of formerly incarcerated tutors and how their lived experiences bring a unique and impactful perspective to the world of education.
1. The Power of Lived Experience
One of the most compelling reasons formerly incarcerated tutors can be so effective is their lived experience. Many of these tutors understand firsthand the challenges of navigating the educational system while being marginalized, whether due to socioeconomic status, race, or prior justice involvement. These experiences allow them to empathize with students who feel disconnected from traditional education settings.
At The Rebel Academy, which was founded in 2024 by GED instructor Lauren Zavrel, the mission is to provide student-centered instruction uninhibited by the bureaucratic and institutional barriers found in traditional college settings. Zavrel’s frustration with low graduation rates for BIPOC students, those with learning variances or disabilities, and others facing systemic challenges led her to build a new educational model. The Rebel Academy also prioritizes hiring justice-impacted tutors, recognizing their value in connecting with students who face similar life struggles.
These tutors have often been both learners and teachers in correctional facilities, using their skills to help fellow inmates pass the GED or other exams. Their personal journey with education serves as a powerful motivator for students, showing them that learning can offer a path to new opportunities, regardless of past circumstances.
2. Breaking Down Barriers of Trust and Understanding
For students who have faced barriers in traditional education—whether those barriers stem from systemic racism, economic hardship, or personal challenges—trusting the educational system can be difficult. Many feel alienated by teachers who cannot relate to their lived experiences. This disconnect often leads to disengagement and poor performance.
Formerly incarcerated tutors, however, often share a deep understanding of the struggles these students face. They can relate to the feelings of inadequacy or the societal pressures that make academic success seem out of reach. This shared experience helps them break down barriers of trust more easily than educators who haven’t lived through similar circumstances.
At The Rebel Academy, the decision to hire justice-impacted and BIPOC tutors is a direct response to the recognition that peer-to-peer connection can be transformative. When students see tutors who have overcome significant challenges—often the same challenges they are currently facing—it inspires a level of trust and motivation that is hard to achieve through traditional teaching methods.
3. A Holistic Approach to Learning
Many formerly incarcerated tutors bring with them a more holistic approach to education, recognizing that students need more than just academic instruction to succeed. They understand that learning is affected by external factors like trauma, stress, and lack of access to resources. As such, they are often more attuned to addressing the emotional and mental well-being of their students alongside their academic needs.
At The Rebel Academy, the focus is on student-centered instruction that adapts to the needs of each individual. Without the constraints of institutional agendas, policies, or schedules, the Academy is able to offer flexible tutoring sessions that meet students where they are—both physically and emotionally. This flexibility allows formerly incarcerated tutors to build strong, supportive relationships with students, fostering an environment where learning is not just about passing a test but about personal growth and empowerment.
4. Challenging the Stigma of Incarceration
One of the most important impacts of employing formerly incarcerated tutors is the challenge it presents to the societal stigma surrounding incarceration. Far too often, individuals who have been incarcerated are written off as “unreformable,” facing barriers to employment, housing, and education long after they’ve served their sentences. This is part of the larger caste system that Lauren Zavrel and The Rebel Academy aim to dismantle.
By giving formerly incarcerated individuals a platform to share their skills and knowledge, educational institutions like The Rebel Academy send a powerful message: people are not defined by their pasts, and everyone deserves a second chance. This message is vital for students who have also experienced the impacts of the criminal justice system, whether directly or indirectly. It helps create an environment of acceptance and encouragement, showing students that they too can rise above societal labels and stereotypes.
Moreover, formerly incarcerated tutors often bring a strong sense of purpose to their work. Having experienced the transformative power of education firsthand, many are passionate about giving back to their communities and helping others succeed. This passion can be contagious, motivating students to stay engaged and committed to their own education.
5. Peer Tutors as Role Models
Formerly incarcerated tutors are more than just instructors—they are role models. They exemplify resilience, determination, and the belief that education can change lives. For many students, especially those from marginalized communities, seeing someone who shares their background and has overcome adversity can be a powerful source of inspiration.
In traditional educational environments, many students from underrepresented backgrounds may struggle to find role models who look like them or who have faced similar challenges. By hiring justice-impacted tutors, The Rebel Academy ensures that students have access to relatable mentors who demonstrate that success is achievable, even when the odds seem stacked against them.
6. The Impact on Recidivism
Research has shown that education is one of the most effective tools in reducing recidivism rates among formerly incarcerated individuals. By providing educational and employment opportunities to justice-impacted tutors, organizations like The Rebel Academy are not only helping their students succeed but are also contributing to reducing the cycle of incarceration.
Formerly incarcerated tutors often speak about the importance of education in their own journeys, sharing personal stories of how earning a GED or pursuing higher education helped them rebuild their lives. These stories can be a powerful motivator for students who may feel that the system is working against them. When students see that education has the potential to open doors to employment and stability, they are more likely to stay committed to their own learning.
Conclusion
The inclusion of formerly incarcerated tutors in educational programs like The Rebel Academy is a powerful step toward creating more equitable and impactful learning environments. These tutors bring unique insights, empathy, and a passion for teaching that can deeply resonate with students, particularly those who have faced their own struggles with the educational system or the criminal justice system. By challenging societal stigma, fostering trust, and serving as relatable role models, justice-impacted tutors are making a meaningful difference in the lives of students, helping them to believe in their own potential and empowering them to take control of their futures.
The Rebel Academy’s mission to hire justice-impacted and BIPOC tutors is not only innovative but also essential in breaking down barriers and providing education that truly meets the needs of all students. With this approach, education becomes not just about knowledge but about hope, transformation, and the power of second chances.
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The Rebel Academy 