Pandemic Professors Inc

Results: Our organization expanded rapidly and was met with a large demand due to the quality of services we provide. The quick expansion alone with a great achievement, but the feedback from the families we serve informing us of their satisfaction with our services was the most meaningful. 99.4% of our students who shared their experience with us expressed they felt joyful and excited about their sessions and progress. Additionally, our various partners have reached out to us to collaborate because they recognize the impact our services can have on their populations. This is a testament to the fact that we offer a much-needed service and deliver it at a high caliber. The assistance we are providing for the population we serve and the personal stories of success from our students are accomplishments we are proud of. We look forward to continually improving and expanding the services and programs we offer. 

Target demographics: We assist K-12 students in low-income and underserved communities.

Direct beneficiaries per year: Over 200 students and counting!

Geographic areas served: Throughout the United States (virtually)

Programs: Free 1:1 online tutoring: Pandemic Professors' K-12 program provides free tutoring to students in low-income communities across the United States. At Pandemic Professors, we believe all K-12 students deserve an opportunity to receive free supplemental learning in order to help them remain on track and meet their educational goals. At the heart of the program is the desire to equip our students with the tools they need to grow academically, foster their socio-emotional health, and to create change in their respective communities. Their involvement in our program allows them to build healthy relationships, which strengthens their communities and creates a greater sense of cohesion in these challenging and isolating times. We hope to make a lasting impact on eliminating economic inequality on a larger scale by providing resources where they have historically been lacking. This is especially important to minority and marginalized populations.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    Coding: Our coding program provides introductory coding tutoring in order to develop tech talent in students from groups that are historically underrepresented in the tech industry. By providing a friendly, encouraging introduction to coding with a long-term tutor who can speak to their own passion and background in tech, we encourage students from diverse backgrounds to see themselves in the industry and connect to their own passions for it. The role of our tutors is to help students connect with engaging curricula online and help them walk through the content while connecting it to real-world applications. The tutors also engage the broader family system by helping students share their work with their families through capstone projects and showcases.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  Spanish Speakers: Through our Spanish Speakers program we help students and their families navigate services that would otherwise be inaccessible due to language concerns. One facet of this program is designed to help our students develop necessary tools through English language development to succeed academically and as a whole. This program not only empowers our students but their families as well. In order to fulfill this ambition, our team of Spanish-fluent volunteers will provide direct support to the families of students in the form of Spanish language resources and direct personal assistance through text, email, and phone. We know education can be a daunting enterprise, especially for those families where English is not a part of their day to day home life. Our hope is that our Spanish Speakers program will help diminish these anxieties while maximizing their involvement in the learning process.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              ESL: English language acquisition is crucial for the healthy psychosocial development of children. Our ESL program strives to help youth learn both academic and social English while also recognizing the importance of preserving students’ fluency in their native language so that their cultural connections remain. Our tutors strive to develop lesson objectives and activities that focus on building reading, writing, speaking, and listening skills. The tutoring sessions are student-centered and informed by the students' needs whether they are academic, professional, or personal.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    Financial Literacy: Our Financial Literacy program educates students and adults about financial systems and how to leverage this acquired knowledge to create a brighter future for themselves and their families. It is often the case that families in underprivileged communities have not been taught basic personal finance management techniques. They have no idea about the importance of budgeting, saving, a good credit score, or the advantages of having a 401K. This makes it impossible for them to break out of their cycle of poverty and have a secure financial future. As an organization focusing on the needs of such communities, we believe it is our duty to provide them with the right tools needed to succeed in life. This program works to create a society where everyone has equal access to the knowledge and skills required to be successful financially.