Tampa, Florida - A local principal is proving that learning is beyond what you do with a book and paper.
A new program at Metropolitan Ministries Partnership School is making a difference in the lives of less fortunate children in Tampa Bay.
What can be done in three weeks? That's what the staff at Metropolitan Ministries Partnership School ask themselves every day.
"If we can only have 15 days with these kids, how can we impact their lives?" says Jonathan Grantham, Principal at Metropolitan Ministries Partnership School.
Unfortunately, that may be all the time they get to try. Three weeks is the average amount of time a child goes to the school.
The kids here in grades K-5 are homeless, live at the Metropolitan Ministries Shelter or have a tough home life.
"Our children need people that know they care. We're trying to change their lives and change what their dreams are," says Grantham.
To do that, he and teachers created "Anywhere, Anytime, Any Book," a mentor program based on reading. The goal is to pair every student with an adult to read with, to help with school work or simply, talk to.
"One of the mentors was talking to one of the little boys about the importance of college, those are conversations that are kids are not always having at home," says Wendy Wilson, Reading Coach at Metropolitan Ministries Partnership School.
Mentors began meeting with students in September and Grantham says it didn't take long to see the impact.
"They're giving high fives, they're smiling, they're coming in and they're asking for things, yea, the kids are changing."
There are 75 students here at the Partnership school, 54 already have mentors. But there have been 17 new students since Christmas, making the need for your 30 minutes, even greater.
"We're trying to give these kids confidence, and say, hey, there is a chance to be successful and let me help you," says Grantham.
So if three weeks is all the time the students have here, the hope is that someone made a difference in their lives, they'll never forget.
If you'd like to be a mentor, call Metropolitan Ministries Partnership School at 813-347-4160.
All they ask for is 30 minutes, once a week.