After School Program Offers Free Tutoring, Healthy Meal In Roxbury
BOSTON (CBS) - By 2:00 p.m. most Boston Public Schools students are out but for 13-year-old Jadon Smith that only means it's time for a little food for thought.
"I'm getting my work done but not only that I get food!" Smith said.
Jadon participates in Pie R Squared, a new after school program that offers free math tutoring for Boston area school students. The program is located inside a delicious café called Dudley Dough in Roxbury.
The kids get to order whatever meal they want and it's all paid for by the program. "The kids are safe. They are getting healthy food as well as great quality tutoring," founder Beth Segers said.
Beth funds the program on her own dime. She's a successful research analyst by day, but by two o'clock she puts her own numbers away to make sure kids get the proper math help they need to succeed.
"They are doing it in the schools but there's not enough time in the school day and I think our goal is to use these hours that are available to students and use time wisely," Segers said.
The tutors are volunteer grad students and professors from area colleges like BU and Northeastern University.
Jadon says the program has helped him tremendously. "My math grades have rose dramatically now that I'm getting the help I need, I went from B- student to a A+ now," Smith said.
Pie R Squared is available Monday through Thursday from 3pm to 7pm. The students come not just to get a great meal but most importantly to get ahead in life.
"Math to me is a bridge and you use it every day. We use it every day no matter what we do in life," Segers said.
The one challenge she has is finding more tutors to help.
"This is a path to prepare students to do good work in their own community. I do hope I find more tutors," Segers said.
For more information visit: www.piersquared.org/
