Bright Key®’s Academic Dream Room in Full Swing
Trained Volunteers Begin Tutoring Initiative at Highlands Elementary
Dothan, Al. April 7, 2016:
Students at Highlands Elementary are getting a little extra help in the Bright Key® Academic Dream Room.
Thanks to a dedicated group of close to 25 trained volunteers, students receive one-on-one reading comprehension and phonics assistance during school hours.
“I’m so thankful for our volunteer tutors who give their time and talents to work with our students. They are helping them with their academics, but just as important, they are encouraging them to love to learn,” says Resource Coordinator Brittany Shepard. “Several students have already told me that their scheduled Dream Room day is their favorite day of the week, and this is because our volunteers are so amazing.”
Volunteers are required to attend a Bright Key® orientation, successfully pass a background check and complete a Dothan City Schools tutor training. Many of the volunteer tutors are parents and grandparents of students at Highlands. Included are several retired educators, professionals from local banks, financial groups and other businesses. Bright Key® Highlands also has a partnership with Eagle Eye Outfitters, which allows their employees to volunteer tutor using their company’s Volunteer Time Off hours.
“The most rewarding thing about volunteering in the Highlands Academic Dream Room is seeing the student’s progress. I also enjoy spending time with the kids and helping them reach their full potential,” says volunteer, Ann-Marie Sullivan who has two children at Highlands.
The tutoring program wraps up Wednesday, April 13 for the school year but will return in the fall.
About Bright Key®
Bright Key® is a partnership between Wiregrass Foundation and Dothan City Schools to pilot an innovative, grassroots community school initiative in several area schools. Bright Key® involves school-community stakeholders (teachers, parents, and others) in the identification and implementation of programs and services to maximize the academic potential of every child. Each school’s program is uniquely tailored to positively impact the children, schools, families and communities of the individual school. Programs and services will be invited into the schools through a self-sustaining partner model that will continually engage the active participation of the stakeholders.
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