Established in 2012!
In September of 2012, FLOC approached three area schools and asked for five children to be identified as academically talented with need for resource. We initiated this program with five 3rd, 4th and 5th graders; they are currently in 5th, 6thand 7th grade; they will eventually graduate from Wayne, Centerville and Northmont High Schools. These children will then go into a pool of potential college scholarship recipients.
It’s amazing what a difference you make when you pay attention to a child; when you build the village that helps to raise your beloved children. That’s what we’re doing in this longitudinal study, the first of its kind in the Dayton area, I believe. We have an avid, dedicated team of volunteers who are mentoring our group of our initial group of fifteen students, now seventeen kids. We meet once a month, and because of those regular meetings, a community is in development. In the first year, our Mentoring Director, Brittany Jones ran our meetings with a group of young adults who come up with brilliant, zany ways of interacting with our kids. Upon her graduation from UD, her sister, Becca became our Director of Mentoring. We are now in our third year, and the success our children have in creating this new community has been so rewarding. It is amazing to watch our young children grow up- each meeting is just a joy filled gathering, and always most anticipated by child and family alike.
While the gathering is in full motion, Becca and I will take each child and parent(s) aside individually in order to determine academic growth and need. We have a large number of tutors available, and coordinate the tutoring scenario as needed. We have seen incredible growth based on efforts made; many of our students have become much stronger in their studies, with at least three going up a letter grade, and with one of our students being made Student of the Month, to which her mother gives us much credit.
It is inspiring, it is exciting, it is a hands-on life interaction with children you grow to care for as your own. This study is now being followed by many area educators- especially by the administrators of the local schools we’re working with, and by DePaul University.
If you would like to participate in this program, or would like to tutor in any subject, we have many programs in development at this point. Please get in contact with me, and I will make sure you get involved in one of the happiest, most fulfilling organizations EVER. Thank you.
To get involved, contact: 937-223-FLOC (3562)