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By Sallie Godwin
They give their time, expertise, and love to kids at Jackson Elementary School in north Tulsa by coaching third graders in math. All Souls members Ken Seidel, Joe McDonald, Dan Piazzola, Dave Staudt, and Martin Lantz visit Jackson at least once a week to coach their “buddies” in math basics in one-on-one, hour-long sessions. Their program is supported by All Souls Partners In Education, commonly known as PIE.
A B C – It’s Easy As 1 2 3
PIN IT
“Ken roped me into it, but I’m really enjoying my math buddy,” Dan Piazzola, a retired geophysicist joked. It took three coaching sessions for his student to realize that it was okay to laugh and joke with him. “He was very quiet and respectful. The third session I made a joke and he was surprised. Since then we’ve gotten along well,” Dan said.
As Simple as Do Re Mi
Math coach Dave Staudt was already volunteering in two north Tulsa programs before PIN IT
For Martin Lantz, going to Jackson to meet his math buddy was stepping back in time. He grew up in the neighborhood and played ball and participated in Boy Scouts at Jackson. Martin worked in administration for Department of Human PIN IT
Martin’s math buddy also has challenges with reading, confidence, and worries about standardized testing. “I hate it that a little girl in third grade has to be worried about testing. I tell her to not worry about the tests when she is with me, just concentrate on the tasks,” he said.
1 2 3, Do Re Mi, Baby You and Me!
Joe McDonald has volunteered in various programs at Jackson for five years and like PIN IT
This story is just one story of the impact Partners In Education has in fulfilling the lives of PIE volunteers and the scope of impact of PIE’s three partner schools, Jackson and Gilcrease Elementary schools and McLain 7th Grade Academy.
Support PIE at their annual FUN-raiser, Sing for Our Schools, on Saturday, February 3, 2018.
Sing for Our Schools is a toe-tapping sing along fun-fest where you and the audience are the stars! Although some of our song leaders are well-known Tulsa performers, (uh-hum, Rebecca Ungerman, Thomas Williams, Rebecca Marks Jimerson) they take a back seat to audience members whose enthusiasm is enhanced with adult beverages and light snacks.
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