Michelle McAndrews holds a tablet and pen, controlling a “Super Citizen Interactive Map” on a projector screen in Mrs. White’s fifth grade classroom at Eufaula Elementary School. When she asks the students which state they want to view next, dozens of hands shoot up in the air.
As visibly excited students take turns sharing “fun facts” about the states they are from, a smile forms on McAndrews’ face. She’s winning the battle to engage the iPod generation in learning.
McAndrews is one of several Alabama Power employees who are volunteering inside classrooms at Eufaula Elementary School. And she’s using resources from the Liberty Learning Super Citizen Program Kits that her company donated earlier this year.
That contribution is teaching 250 fifth graders crucial lessons in character, financial literacy and American history & civics. And it’s accomplishing its goals with interactive multimedia and hands-on help from volunteers like McAndrews.
“For Alabama Power,” McAndrews explains, “a monetary donation wasn’t enough – they wanted to donate their time as well.”
McAndrews says volunteers sign up for weekly time slots and have help preparing before they set foot in a classroom. This communication helps volunteers feel comfortable, relaxed, and prepared.
“It’s been wonderful. The kids are great, they are so excited. Every week we come in and talk about the lessons that they’ve done and they retain the information, they are excited about doing it, and they want to see what comes next.”
McAndrews sees volunteering as an opportunity to engage with students and teachers – to learn the challenges they face, and to learn what they do really well already. She says it’s teaching her as much as it is teaching the fifth graders in Mrs. White’s class. She’s learning the importance of community.
“Every day when I do different things like this, especially things like this, I sit and go “Oh my gosh, what must it be like to work for a company that doesn’t support that?” because it’s so rewarding not only for the employee, but just as a person to get out there and be involved and know that your company supports that and supports your efforts and encourages that – it’s wonderful!”
“I hope they see our communities cares – I hope they see that their education goes beyond the walls of this school and it really is a community effort. And that we want to be involved- we want to see them succeed.”
Eufaula Elementary has a several weeks left in the program, but has already begun plans for their Celebration in which they will honor the graduating fifth graders, as well as their elected Torch Team Heroes. The Celebration is set for December 13th at 1pm.