COLONY, Ala. – On Thursday, Ethel Alexander- coordinator of Colony’s recently established tutoring program and the town’s newly appointed mayor pro tem- along with former Mayor Donnis Leeth, presented Amazon Fire HD 10 tablets to students in the tutoring program. The devices feature dual band Wi-Fi, high-definition displays and hands-free operation via Alexa, tools that will come in handy for the students, who currently have to do much of their schoolwork from home.
Town Clerk Patricia Ponder told The Tribune, “Former Mayor Donnis Leeth wanted to reward the children and parents for dedicating themselves to learning,” and ordering the devices was among his last acts as mayor, but, she said, “The tablets were not delivered before he left office.”
Alexander and several mothers from the community started the program to help students who are struggling with virtual learning under the current conditions of COVID-19. Mothers and students are bringing their computers and other devices to the Educational Complex Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday mornings from 10 a.m. until noon, where the kids can plug in while the moms compare notes on how to do things. Meanwhile, Alexander- a once and now again educator herself- comes to provide support and advice to the parents and students on anything from academics to navigating the online world of virtual education.
Alexander told The Tribune in September, “They’re working through the virtual learning through the schools that they go to. They log on each morning that they come. The fifth grader, the sixth grader and the fourth grader are independent; we’re just there to assist them if they have a question. But they’re able to read and do their work, so it’s just a reinforcement for them.
“The younger ones, the first graders, we’re doing more hands-on with them. The mothers are actually taking charge in that, and they’re doing a great job. We have one mother that actually, she seeks out the work that should be done, that goes to support what they’re doing through virtual, because what has happened, I think, is that they’re logging on to virtual, but there is nobody talking, really, back to them. The children, they need that hands-on type, that communication back and forth.
“The parents are doing very well with that. What I’m just doing is I’m assisting the parents and encouraging them that they can do this thing, because they didn’t know if they would be able to manage, and they had so many questions on virtual and the new way of learning, now. I think they’re going to do a great job.”
The tutoring program is still taking students, and is open to students in any grade, as long as they come with a parent or guardian.
Said Alexander, “We do have room for others, but the thing is that if a parent brings a child, they have to stay with the child. We’re teaching the parents to be teachers,” Alexander said, adding, “If that parent is having trouble, we’re there to help the parent. They’re not by themselves. That’s the good thing about it: the parents are supporting each other. So if one’s having trouble, the other one can maybe take up the slack. I’m there to also help take up the slack if there’s issues, because there were a lot of concerns when we first started.”
Alexander concluded, “I believe they’re going to do good.”
In September, the council voted to support the program with a $50 per month contribution to purchase supplies and materials. Donations have been delayed as the issue of who is authorized to sign checks for the Town is contested within the town government.
Both virtual and home-schooling assistance are available Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday each week from 10 a.m. until noon. The classes are held at the Education Complex in classrooms set aside by the town council for the Colony Historical Society that is currently being established.
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