
SEYMOUR — Students struggling to make the grade with remote learning are getting some much-needed extra help.
A new after school instructional program was scheduled to launch recently at Seymour Middle School and at Seymour High School, according to Superintendent of Schools Michael Wilson.
Wilson said based on input from both students and parents on a survey earlier this year, the need to provide additional help from teachers was warranted.
“We all recognize that students learn at different rates and our students will benefit from having teachers available after the school day ends,” Wilson wrote in an emailed message. “We heard from students and parents via our survey…that while at home, students still wanted or needed additional support to better understand topics and to complete assignments. That is why we created this wonderful learning opportunity.”
Based on a student survey taken by more than 365 students when school ended last June, more than half or nearly half of the respondents said remote learning was stressful, confusing and made them frustrated, but also gave them a great feeling of independence at the same time.
Many students surveyed also reported a lack of in-person, face-to-face communication with their teachers made understanding assignments and lessons more difficult. And the days of raising your hand in class and getting an immediate answer, rather than having to email your teacher and wait for a response, was definitely something students missed.
Wilson said his administration brainstormed on how to provide additional support for students and came up with the after school program.
“We came up with this idea and then presented it to our building administrators who supported this idea since it gave additional support to our students,” Wilson said.
Wilson said seven teachers currently on staff were hired to take on the roles as after school instructors. He said the Board of Education granted him executive authority to hire the folks for these new positions, which will pay $75 per hour and be funded through COVID-19 grant money the school district received.
Those teachers hired for the new positions are Michael Avena, Eric DeMarco, Nicole Fearon, Erin Scozzafava, Kelley Garofalo, Nick Frosolone, and Cheryl Collins.
Wilson explained the program will meet three times a week for one hour each day in order to provide additional support to any student who needs assistance in Math, English/Language Arts, Social Studies or Science.
All instruction is being remotely, and available to students in grades 6 – 12.