Bini Martonico, a junior at EPHS and a student teacher at Turning Point Dance Studio, described during public comment how the studio’s work‑study program gives teen helpers a chance to teach younger students and receive tuition relief.

Martonico said she has been dancing since age 2 and joined Turning Point’s work‑study program at about 13. “In the past few years, especially after COVID, I developed sort of a student work study program where, students can work classes and and teach students, so that they can help with their tuition relief,” she said.

The program assigns older students to assist and teach younger classes, Martonico said, which she described as both a financial aid mechanism and a mentorship opportunity. “They become mentors for our younger dancers,” she said. Martonico said she has worked as a student helper and teacher for several younger dancers for four years and has taught jazz for two years; this is her first year teaching their tap class. “I really hope that they just grow a love for tap,” she said.

Martonico also described how teaching helped her improve as a dancer by giving her insight into instructors’ approaches. “Being a student teacher myself has helped me become a better dancer because it helps me understand the perspective of my own teachers and like where they're coming from with what they try and teach,” she said.

She said the younger students respond to older dancers as role models and often practice at home. “The younger kids especially, they really like it, like I can tell that they go home and practice,” Martonico said.

Martonico’s remarks focused on the local studio program and her experience; no formal action or vote was recorded during the portion of the meeting represented in the transcript.

Her comments highlighted the dual role of the studio program as both an in‑studio tuition relief tool and a hands‑on mentoring opportunity for younger dancers.