By Going to School on Saturday, Students Find the Help They Need

For students looking to catch up or get ahead in school, it can be hard. The is looking to change that with the African American Family Network’s (AAFN) Saturday School.

“Here, (students) can get specific one-on-one tutoring, which is invaluable,” said AAFN President Jamie Brooks. “A lot of the students that come have never had that.”

The AAFN, an area parenting group, created the program in December to help students who need individualized tutoring but who couldn’t fit an after-school program into their schedule. From 9-11 a.m. every Saturday, students work with individual tutors on subjects in which they need the most help, then participate in a half-hour workshop with the entire group.

The program is open all students in the district at no cost, but a $2 donation is suggested to cover the costs of materials for workshops and student snacks.

For Patricia Staten, the free tutoring program is a blessing.

Staten said her 11-year-old daughter, Brianna, was nearly “kicking and screaming” the first time Staten brought her to Saturday School, but she has grown to enjoy the program, her mother said.

“I appreciate the parent network for spearheading this and actually bringing this to fruition because if it wasn’t for them, we wouldn’t have it,” Staten said.

On Saturday, about 20 students showed up — an average number, said Jason Clinkscale, Berkshire assistant principal and Saturday School director — for tutoring and to participate in an interactive discussion on test preparation skills.

Saturday was the first session for Chontelle Glenn and her 14-year-old daughter Kayla and 8-year-old Tiffany. Both girls needs extra help in math, Glenn said. After spending time with a volunteer math tutor, Kayla said the experience was invaluable.

“It went really well,” Kayla said after the session. “I learned that I knew everything, I just need to apply myself.”

Besides Clinkscale, Saturday School is run entirely by volunteers such as Nancy Harris and her daughter Rachael Eubanks, a freshman at . Alongside area high school and college students, parents and teachers, participants can receive instruction in subjects from basic reading skills to advanced math.

“It’s fun,” Rachael said. “I just like seeing their progress learning and understanding the work, (then) seeing at the end of the day that they get it now.”

Clinkscale said the program is a success in that it allows students to seek help in a quiet setting, working with just one instructor, instead of trying to gain the attention of a teacher working with 20 students in a classroom.

Rachael said having students help each other can be even more beneficial than working with a teacher. Math instruction changes through the years, she said, and having a student who’s been through that class can be an invaluable learning experience.

Clinkscale said organizers are always looking to grow the program and need more volunteer tutors — specifically, students such as Rachael. In particular, at a recent meeting to the Birmingham school board, Superintendent David Larson said the program needs advanced math tutors to keep up with the demand of students seeking help.

Despite its growing pains, though, Brooks said the program is already a success because of the help it has provided so far.

“We, as a parent organization, appreciate the support we are receiving from the district, community and the parents because that allows us to help our students.”