Horseshoe Cove residents share smarts at Braden River

BRADEN RIVER — Horseshoe Cove resident Mardean Francis doesn’t miss teaching.

At least not the daily grind that goes along with the profession.

After spending 25 years as a reading and language-arts teacher, Francis was more than happy not to have to grade another paper or prepare another quiz or final exam.

But, when it comes to interacting with students — that’s an entirely different story.

So, when Braden River reading teacher Susan Busby spoke to a group of Horseshoe Cove residents in January about the possibility of tutoring students in reading to help them prepare for the FCAT, ACT and SAT, Francis felt compelled to help.

“It was amazing … with my Scottish background and my mother’s (belief) that what’s meant for you doesn’t go past you,” Francis said. “In Washington state, I worked at a high school, and that was my job when I was working at the high school. I was the coordinator, and I knew the job and enormity of that job.”

With more than 200 students who had yet to pass the FCAT or ACT, Busby decided to reach out to the community for help. Braden River Assistant Principal Don French suggested Busby reach out to the residents of Horseshoe Cove, who were more than willing to help out.

“Teachers with 25 kids in their classrooms can’t do much,” Busby said. “It’s easier this way to (reach out) to a big group of people. When I went over and spoke … I got a huge response. I didn’t have enough handouts.”

Busby coordinated the volunteer packets, sample FCAT tests, schedules and explanations, and then let the volunteers begin working with the students.

Today, Francis and about 20 of her neighbors volunteer their time to work with the students. Francis, who has since become the Horseshoe Cove coordinator, spends four days a week at the school tutoring for about 90 minutes each week.

“I get to do the best part of teaching,” Francis said. “For the volunteers, it’s the relationship with the kids. A lot of the volunteers have taught, and it’s a way to rekindle that relationship with the kids.”

The tutoring sessions have not only been enjoyable for the volunteers. They’ve also been both enjoyable, and, most importantly, beneficial, for the students. Shortly after the program started, five students passed the FCAT in February and another large group of juniors and seniors are slated to take the text next week, including junior Kem Henry, who has been working with Francis four days a week.

Henry began working with Francis as a way to improve his reading skills to not only pass the FCAT and ACT but also as a way to progress out of remedial classes.

Since their first session, Henry has learned various test-taking strategies, including which passages to read first and what sections to mark.

“It went well,” Henry said. “I’ve gotten a lot better. I just need to continue working on reading things in time and concentrating before time runs out.”

The majority of the students involved in the program came up and said they wanted to work with a tutor while the rest were assigned to participate.

“We’ve tried to express to the kids that this is a privilege,” Busby said. “Sometimes, we have to direct the kids, but most of the time, they always want the help. More than anything, it’s important for them to see that it can’t all be done at school. Kids need help and a lot of kids need a lot of help.”

The tutors will continue working with the students throughout the remainder of the school year.

Busby is hoping to generate more interest and start the program again toward the beginning of the school year. However, tutoring program isn’t limited to just those who live in Horseshoe Cove.

“We would like to extend the volunteering program to the community,” Busby said.

Those interested in volunteering can contact the school at 751-8230.

Contact Jen Blanco at [email protected].