Sharpening Young Minds, Preparing Future Teachers
Each year students all across America look forward to their summer vacations. Unfortunately their minds usually go on an extended vacation. Extensive studies by Johns Hopkins University have shown that kids can lose up to two months or more of math and reading skills each summer. Those same studies have shown that two-thirds of the 9th grade achievement gap between low and high-income students is due to a lack of adequate summer learning activities. Many teachers have to spend at least 4-6 weeks of each school year re-teaching the previous years material.
“How can we expect to keep up with the rest of the world if we waste at least a year of students education on re-teaching old material” said Lisa Deliz, owner of a local tutoring company, Knowledge College, Inc. “If we don’t do something, fewer and fewer students will graduate from high school and go on to college.”
At the same time thousands of new educators are graduating from college with very little experience as public school teachers. “I know Lisa and I were caught by surprise during our first year of teaching” commented Patricia Tuley, a fellow business partner of Knowledge College, Inc. and former Cleveland Metropolitan school teacher. “Knowing how to teach is one thing, handling the rigors of urban public schools is something else.”
All of this frustration led to the creation of the Knowledge College Community Corporation (KCCC). A non-profit organization whose mission is to close the achievement gap that exists in urban public schools, and to prepare up and coming college grads for a career in the public school system.
The non-profit was formed in the fall of 2008, and provided a FREE 8-week tutoring program at the MLK Civic Center in East Cleveland this past summer. In preparation for their careers, several college students and recent grads conducted math and reading lessons for kids in grades K through 8. In addition, several local Shaw High School football players also volunteered their time to help assist Knowledge College tutors each Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday.
When asked what the goal of the program was, Tuley said, “Our hope is that these kids jump into next school year with a sharp mind, and enthusiastic spirit. We are not just preparing a student to pass a test. We are also inspiring young teachers to raise students’ expectations and prepare them for higher institutions of learning and skilled careers.”
The for profit corporation Knowledge College, Inc. provides after-school math and reading tutoring to students in schools that are struggling to meet state testing standards. The company provides the services for free thanks to the generous funding of the No Child Left Behind Act. The summer program is being fully funded by KCCC’s sister company, Knowledge College, Inc.
The summer tutoring program “is our way of giving back to the community and we hope it continues to grow larger in the years to come” said Deliz. “Our normal business operates on a typical calendar school year. As former teachers, we couldn’t idly sit back and watch these students fall behind after putting forth such a great effort.”
When asked why this program is not offered in other areas of the city, Deliz said “I wish we could. Unfortunately our resources and staff are limited right now. We hope to make the program bigger next year with the help of grants and corporate donations.
For more information about the program, visit the summer camp page on www.knowledgecollegeinc.com or call 216-771-1428.