When I started teaching over 20 years ago, I never imagined I might one day be just as effective impacting education from outside the classroom as from within. But as Seed to Oaks’ Oaks Learning Manager, I’m convinced that equipping churches to help meet educational needs in their communities is one of the best ways to promote educational opportunity and equality for all students. Here’s why:
Each day classroom teachers face the challenge of finding enough time and resources to truly meet the needs of students who struggle most. And each week, sitting in our community’s churches, are dozens of qualified educators with a heart and mind for serving others–and they can help fill in the gap. Oaks Learning is committed to finding ways to mobilize these educators to help meet the needs of students in their neighborhoods as well as to broaden the educational community to include the local church. One way this is already being done is through our Oaks Summer Academies. These two-week academies, implemented by a host church, provide elementary students with instruction designed to help improve the reading and math skills essential for success in the coming school year. Taught using standards-based curriculum by excellent, experienced teachers, this program helps increase student readiness for the grade they’ll enter in the fall. Students are assessed before and after the academy in order to ensure that they are receiving the individualized instruction necessary to help fill in learning gaps.
My vision is that community members with educational needs would think of their local church as one of the first places to seek help. My job is to help equip churches to meet those needs by providing high quality, easy to implement programs that truly make a difference for everyone. Consider how God may be calling your church to work towards redeeming and restoring the educational process.
Consider hosting an Oaks Learning initiative today. Schedule time to talk with Julie today, jcordray@seedtooaks.com!