The AIM Model
A Cycle of Growth and Trust
AIM's Proven Success
The AIM model began with the University of Arizona’s Teaching Teams program in 1998, which showed that peer educators improve student outcomes through collaboration and inquiry-based learning.
Dr. Keith Jones brought that model to an accredited course in 2004, where it became Peers for Positive Change (PPC), and later the accredited PACE course, running for (X) years.
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These programs combined mentorship, tutoring, and servant leadership—and laid the foundation for AIM’s continued success in schools today.
AIM stands for Appreciate, Investigate, Motivate—three intentional actions that guide every interaction within Peertivity. This model isn’t curriculum—it’s behavior in motion. AIM shapes how mentors connect with students, how schools build relationships, and how communities grow stronger together. It’s simple, actionable, and powerful enough to transform school culture from the inside out.
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AIM works because it puts people first. Whether it’s a student needing direction, a teacher seeking clarity, or a parent looking for connection, the model adapts. It gives mentors a clear, repeatable way to build trust, uncover potential, and move people forward—without needing a script or a title. In action, it looks something like this:
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Appreciate – See the worth in the person across from you. Listen actively. Validate their experience.
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Investigate – Ask thoughtful questions. Seek their strengths, stories, and obstacles. Stay curious, not clinical.
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Motivate – Co-create a path forward. Offer challenges, support, and consistent follow-through.
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Each step feeds the next. AIM isn’t something you complete—it’s how you show up. And over time, it becomes culture.
