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<\/a>\u201cParents were at our front door, with the computer and the student in hand, and they were more or less asking, \u2018What are we going to do?\u2019\u201d recalls Sherri Mixon, the executive director at T.R. Hoover.<\/p>\nDespite initial conversations about doing so, the center couldn\u2019t shut down. \u201cThe community leans on the center as a place for information, guidance and support,\u201d said Dr. Vonda Nunley, T.R. Hoover\u2019s youth director. \u201cThere was no way we were going to turn them away.\u201d<\/p>\n
Located in South Dallas,\u00a0<\/span>T.R. Hoover CDC<\/a>\u00a0<\/span>is a nonprofit that serves children, adults and seniors in the area through a range of programs, including after-school and summer care. In normal times, the after-school program is a place where learners gather for fellowship, lessons and dinner.<\/p>\n To do so, T.R Hoover launched its Homework Helpline. During the day, youth could do their at-home learning through Dallas ISD, and in the evening, from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m., they could log onto Zoom for additional help. Using breakout sessions, T.R. Hoover was able to pair learners with a mentor, typically a student from\u00a0<\/span>St. Mark\u2019s School of Dallas<\/a>\u00a0<\/span>or\u00a0<\/span>The Hockaday School<\/a>. These older students, Mixon and Nunley said, were essential to the helpline.<\/p>\n But after successfully navigating the spring, there was still summer programming to pull off. \u201cI knew there were a lot of things that our students needed to stay on top of as they moved into the next grade,\u201d Nunley said.<\/p>\n Between 9 a.m. and 12 p.m., learners could choose an hour-long timeslot of one-on-one reading and math enrichment. \u201cThey did a little remediation and a lot of acceleration,\u201d Nunley said.<\/p>\n Then, in the afternoon, T.R. Hoover offered a virtual version of its original summer plan: Kids College 2020. Held from June 8 to Aug. 7, the camp included everything from French and history lessons to activities like instrument-making. Learners were also able to grow their own succulents in the Garden Center, and they received books at home through the center\u2019s newly launched Wanderers Traveling Library.<\/p>\n But Kids College didn\u2019t just focus on academics, although each of the 52 summer learners met their progress goals.<\/p>\n Mixon shared the story of one 11-year-old learner who made tremendous strides, both academically and personally. Throughout the summer, she became more confident and less afraid to make mistakes. \u201cWe would never be able to say this was not a successful program \u2014 because that one child, we made a significant difference with,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n This spring and summer have been a learning experience for both youth and adults, and Mixon and Nunley offered a few pieces of advice: Always have patience with learners, families and yourself, and keep childcare guidelines in mind. Don\u2019t forget to give yourself grace, and when you make mistakes, find a way to grow from them. \u201cWe learned a lot about technology,\u201d Nunley said. \u201cBut we also learned how to love each other through all of this.\u201d<\/p>\n This school year, T.R. Hoover will continue its Tutoring Time program, as well as create outdoor learning labs at the center. These labs will allow small pods of learners to get extra assistance and guidance as they navigate online learning. After school, the organization will again partner with St. Mark\u2019s and Hockaday students to continue emotional, social and academic help, one-on-one.<\/p>\n The center will also continue its meal programs. Along with food distributions for families on Tuesdays and Thursdays, T.R. Hoover offers daily lunches for youth. During the summer, T.R. Hoover reached more than 80 children daily through its meal program. \u201cWe understand that the best way to reach somebody, especially a kid, is through their stomach,\u201d Nunley said. \u201cWhen we can get them to come in for a meal with us, we can reach them academically, emotionally, socially, mentally and physically.\u201d<\/p>\nTransitioning that into an online program was a tall task, but one the staff was determined to tackle.<\/h2>\n
Because of that need, one of the summer\u2019s primary programs was Tutoring Time.<\/h2>\n
<\/p>\n\u201cWe knew that social and emotional learning was important \u2014 and equally as important \u2014 because these kids needed that contact and that interaction,\u201d Nunley said.<\/h2>\n
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