MONCTON – A supply teacher in Moncton is hoping to give out-of-work teachers a little extra income and help children in need.
Amanda Pooley runs a non-profit group called “What Kids Need Moncton.” Pooley says recent teaching cuts have prompted her to move forward with plans to offer discounted tutoring sessions to low income families in Greater Moncton.
She says too many kids in need are already falling through the cracks in school and she fears it’s about to get worse.
“Particularly math is a huge area we are struggling in. There are some reading programs in the area but there is not a whole lot of math help,” she said.
Which is why Pooley plans to launch a tutoring program for families in need like the Jones’. Eight-year-old MacKenzie Jones struggles with numbers and her mother Tara says Mackenzie is getting extra help in school, but it’s not enough.
“We asked in school for extra help and they said they were going to try to get her extra help and they told me that she is getting extra help,” she said.
She says Mackenzie needs even more support, but she simply can’t afford to pay for a private tutor. She’s been told that would would cost anywhere from $25-$50/hour.
Pooley says the Jones are not alone.
“I absolutely hear from parents all the time that they don’t know how they are going to get their children the extra help they need,” she said.
“They are struggling in school and they are falling through the cracks.”
She fears it’s only going to get worse with nearly 250 teaching positions cut in last week’s provincial budget.
“When I saw the recent budget I knew it was going to be a good combination to put the teachers who are looking for the work and the students who need the help together,” said Pooley. “I am hoping to set it up so that each parent can pay $5 a piece which makes it $20 an hour.”
Teachers will be paid to tutor a group of about four at a time. Pooley says the money certainly won’t replace a full-time teaching job.
“But it’s something and it’s experience and it’s helping the community and it’s giving something back,” she said.
The rest of the money will be used to buy teaching supplies.
Right now, Pooley is in the planning stage but she hopes to launch the full tutoring program in another month.
She is looking for teachers to be involved as well as students in need.
“I am super excited that she is being able to start this hopefully soon so that she can maybe not fall back once she gets into the higher grades,” said Jones.
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