Side by Side Incorporated

Parent Fumi Barrow said after attending one of our Family Academies, "It opened my eyes to so many things. My mother spanked us a lot and I didn’t want to do that, so I yelled (at my children). Now we have more positive, effective discipline in place. It’s turned my whole family around. It was life-altering. My teenage daughter is talking to me more and actually wants to be close. Her whole attitude has changed.”

Parent Cassandra Young said, "The workshops helped me learn to slow down and have more patience; slow down and focus on my children's education. I know they're in school learning, but it takes more than school. Iyanna has been in tutoring with Side by Side for two months in her math and her reading. At first she didn't want to read and was hesitant in front of other people, but now she reads aloud and seems to enjoy it."

Teacher Selena Fizer said after helping lead a series of Side by Side workshops for kindergarten parents, "There's been a bond that's developed between us and the parents. When we see them in the hallway, we give waves to each other, we're hugging each other. None of that really happened before, but we're a close little family now. It's really important, because once you have that parent-teacher connection, it's so much better in working with the child. They grow so much further because both people are on the same page, and are there to help each other."

Principal Melinda Lee said, "Our staff saw the great improvements in student achievement and homework completion through your Almost Home after-school tutoring program. I have always been a believer that when parents, community and schools work together for the good of our students, it makes for academic and social achievement.  You have helped tremendously with our success.”

Principal Tom Tucker (now retired) said, "Side by Side is the most effective community outreach program I have been associated with in all my years as principal."

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