In an initiative to blend educational support with community outreach, Devonshire Elementary School has leveraged its relationship with a local university to help bolster the academic skills of its young students. Dr. Anthony Peddle, a former Ohio Wesleyan University student and current principal at Devonshire, has orchestrated a partnership with his alma mater's Bishop Scholars Program, which is now providing hands-on tutoring services at the elementary school.
On Tuesdays and Thursdays, OWU students journey to assist Devonshire pupils in sharpening their mathematics and reading abilities and offer support in any other areas where the children may struggle. The Columbus City Schools' official website reported that Dr. Peddle expressed his eagerness "to bring it back and make it more robust as we support all of our students."
The Bishop Scholars program employs university students and equips them with rigorous training to ensure they're effective tutors. According to the program's director, Kerri Robe, this training involves "strategies to help them with different types of tutoring." Robe highlighted the program's focus on key academic areas in an interview with Columbus City Schools.
OWU sophomore Joel Adade, inspired by his own experiences with his disabled brother, began tutoring last year and is one example of the Bishop Scholars' commitment to community service. “I really love kids, especially living with my brother because he had a disability. That gave me hope, and I will always help my brother or help another student,” Adade said in a statement documented by Columbus City Schools. Fellow tutor Alida Askill also shared her enthusiasm for the program, stressing the reciprocal benefits for both tutors and students alike.
With an eye on the future, Dr. Peddle appreciates the benefits this partnership extends to his students. By exposing them to college-level role models and academic support, Devonshire students are not only receiving much-needed tutoring but also gaining insights into the challenges and opportunities that come with higher education. Dr. Peddle conveyed his excitement about the impact of this program on his students, asserting, "It's really exciting for me as an alum and as a principal to have this program to support all of our students because we know there are only so many hours in the day. So in order to meet the needs of our students, we have to get creative," in a comment to Columbus City Schools.
