AISD Works to Close the Gap
By: Shelby Coates
Updated: October 9, 2008
When the district receive last year's high school TAKS results, they noticed a gap between certain groups of students when it came to math and science. African American students and low socio-economic students scored sufficiently lower in those subjects. So the district turned to the community to address the issue. After several months of meetings, the community and the district presented their Closing the gap program.
Closing the Gap has several components; however, the biggest portion is the tutoring centers located throughout the community. So far the district has deemed four sites to be used as tutoring centers. The centers will be open on Monday and Thursday nights from 6p.m. to 8p.m. Each center will have an AISD teacher to give students one-on-one tutoring in the subjects of math and science. The fours centers are as following: Boys and Girls Club Nelson Club House Art Room at 4610 N. 10th Street, Clack Middle School Cafeteria at 1610 Corsicana, McMurry University Old Main Building in Room 152, and Woodson Center for Excellence Library at 342 Cockerell.
The committee behind the program knew teachers could not close this gap alone, the program also needed mentors from the Abilene community. These mentors would work with the students and their families when it came to school work and other issues. Several mentors have already signed up for the program, but more are needed. Those wishing to volunteer their time as an AISD mentor can contact Billy Stone with the Abilene Independent School District at 677-1444 ext. 5525 or billy.stone@abileneisd.org.
Mentors must go through training and undergo a background check through AISD. Mentors must also be 21 years of age.
