CLEVELAND — She was having a tough time remote learning.
"I don’t really get much help because my brother is always busy with his classes and my dad has to sleep because he works at night,” said Heaven.
Sixth-grader Heaven’s mom, Alitra Scott, who’s an essential worker, couldn’t help her much either.
"I work so I can’t just sit there and watch and make sure she’s doing what she was supposed to do,” said Scott.
Scott says when she got a phone call from Open Doors Academy saying they are offering academic learning pods, she called it a blessing.
"It’s a help to know that your child is with a staff person, they’re assisting with their day-to-day work and it’s almost like school but it's not as crowded,” she said.
"We are providing a safe and structured place for them to come during the day while their teachers are teaching and we’re also providing our own enrichment program for them,” said Dorthy Moluthrop, the CEO of Open Doors Academy.
The pods are popping up all across the Greater Cleveland area, thanks to the United Way of Greater Cleveland and the Cleveland Foundation.
Open Doors Academy is one of about 25 community organizations offering their space and staff to help students navigate online learning and much more.
"We’re able to give them some academic support, some safe and structured place to be and then also develop their leadership skills, their social-emotional skills and to help them during this time,” said Moluthrop.
It’s all been a game-changer for the Scott family.
"I was just about to apply for the COVID FMLA but this was a blessing so now I can continue to work and serve the neighborhood,” said Scott.
Open Doors Academy academic learning pods operate Tuesday-Friday and pick up two meals for each kid from the school districts.
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