Great Oaks Foundation Hosts Its First National Tutorpalooza Conference
NEWARK, N.J., Aug. 19, 2015 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- On Friday, August 14 and Saturday, August 15 the Great Oaks Foundation hosted its first National Tutorpalooza Conference in Newark, NJ.
Close to 200 tutors from four Great Oaks Charter School campuses came together for a weekend of teambuilding, professional development and inspiration. Speakers included Christina Grant, Assistant Superintendent of the Opportunity Network at the School District of Philadelphia; Rashaun Reid, Chief Academic Officer of the Great Oaks Foundation; and Tarilyn Little, Senior Impact Coach at City Year.
Topics covered included the history of the education reform movement, the connection between social justice and math and literacy education, and how to have constructive conversations on race and personal identity with students.
Zoe Baldwin, Projects Director for the Office of United States Senator Cory A. Booker, made a special appearance to read a message of appreciation from the Senator to the tutors. "Your dedication is inspiring," she read, "and I not only wish you luck in the year ahead, but thank you for taking this year to give back. The journey ahead may be challenging, but your presence today, on the threshold of a new school year, shows that you already have the passion and dedication to tackle any challenge at hand."
According to the Great Oaks Foundation's President, Michael Duffy, "The purpose of this conference is to let our tutors know how important the work they are doing is in closing the achievement gap. They are in essence participating in the civil rights issue of our time."
Christopher Pellegrino, the Great Oaks Foundation's National Tutor Corps Director, remarked, "Our tutors truly believe that any student, regardless of their economic or social background, can achieve college success through hard work, perseverance, and positive role models. They will work hard this year to make this belief a reality."
About the Great Oaks Foundation
The Great Oaks Foundation is a charter management organization that supports four schools located in Newark, NJ; New York, NY; Bridgeport, CT, and Wilmington, DE. Each campus hosts a Tutor Corps, a group of bright college graduates from across the country who dedicate a year of service to urban students. During this one-year commitment, tutors work full-time providing one-on-one and small group instruction to each Great Oaks Charter School student.
Contact: Michael Duffy
[email protected]
222 Broadway, 19th Floor
New York, NY 10038
Tel: 917.239.3641
www.greatoakscharter.org
SOURCE Great Oaks Foundation
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