According to United To Learn volunteer and literacy tutor Dawne Tribolet,
“If I could have one holiday wish this season, it would be for us all to help accelerate student achievement across Dallas ISD. As we all know, the pandemic erased years of literacy growth among our youngest learners and these young children are our future workforce–the future of our great city!
“I see that first-hand every week as a United to Learn literacy tutor at Walnut Hill Elementary. I tutor in a first grade classroom and help teachers with whatever I can. It is in these proximate relationships that I see how much potential lies in these students, but without the right resources and instruction, they can fall behind. These schools need our help.
“The need for literacy instruction is huge–in fact, the teachers could use five of me in the classroom, all day long!
“This is where United to Learn (U2L) comes in. By creating 1:1 partnerships with volunteers and schools across the city, U2L has a research-based, tailored pulse on the unique needs of each school. They bring in literacy tutors, campus project funding, professional development, learning materials, teacher appreciation, and more, all tailored to a school’s request. This way, we can provide what a school needs, when and how they need it most.
“Walnut Hill Principal [Phillip] Potter said, ‘United to Learn is the heart of grassroots education advocacy in Dallas. U2L steps in to fill the gaps that we cannot fill and ensures that we are equipped to bring the very best to our learning communities. Moreover, U2L has partnered with us to think of innovative ways to strengthen our instruction program and support learning in a way that is truly caring and innovative.’
“I invite you to join me in giving to United to Learn this holiday season to help Dallas ISD schools recover from the tremendous blows of the pandemic. It is through literacy instruction and support that we can empower the next generation of learners to reach their truest potential.”
* Graphic and photo provided by United To Learn
