After we posted our “An Academic Success Story” article, Elea-Maria Abisamra wrote a guest column in the March 9, 2024, Virginian Pilot, titled “Reverse education declines by empowering young Virginians”.
In the article she provides the following:
“According to the National Center for Education Statistics, about 44% of public-school students started the 2023–24 school year below grade level in at least one subject. In Virginia, the extent of the consequences academically can be seen through Standards of Learning (SOLs) scores, where children have been scoring significantly lower as the years progress.”
MFCE can validate this statistic, the children we are tutoring are in the 4th grade but are struggling with 4th grade mathematics and our goal is to bring these children up to grade level math competency and improve SOL scores.
The author suggests a 2nd-5th grade curriculum that shifts the focus from remediation to empowerment. Children will be provided with direct mentorship, peer interaction, positive visualization skills, and a sense of purpose and accomplishment in addition to reading, writing and critical thinking tutoring.
MFCE’s math tutoring program has already implemented one-on-one tutoring and mentoring, confidence building through class presentations on any subject the child is comfortable presenting, through student demonstration and interaction during our RASTT program of an overview and demonstration of the lesson for the day, one-on-one tutoring and an end of the session review, a summarized reinforcement of the lesson taught.
The author suggests that “metrics will need to be developed and validated to overcome skepticism.” MFCE has developed a set of metrics in consultation with the school that will validate our RASTT process, mid-term testing results have already shown improvement.
Finally, where after school tutoring might be thought overwhelming for children, our program has continued to grow, and our best references are the children currently in our tutoring program. Parents as well as children are requesting that they be allowed into the MFCE Tutoring Program – we will continue to take on as many children as we can, but we need donation help to do this.
If this article resonates with you, please consider a donation in any amount to help MFCE continue to bring children up to their grade level math competency and improve their SOL scores.
We are proud to announce that My Favorite Charity Events has achieved the Candid (Guidestar) Platinum Transparency Seal for providing pertinent data about our organization that can be found at 
Ms. Bradshaw has over 30 years of teaching experience at the community college and grade school levels. She has worked with the VBCPS system since 2019, including offering tutoring for SOL preparation. Motivational speaker, topics include Volunteer Management, Team Building, and Stress Management. Ms. Bradshaw received her undergraduate degree in Gerontology/Human Services, and her Graduate degree in Aging & Management. Her love and enthusiasm for education is only second to her desire to be a part of the foundation of learning for students. 
Mr. Turner has worked as an educator for over a decade, first as a full-time Kaplan tutor before shifting into the public-school setting. Mr. Turner originally provided New York City public schools with SAT and ACT tutoring programs on behalf of Kaplan test prep. Since moving to Virginia Beach with his wife and daughter in 2015, Mr. Turner has taught, tutored, and coached students at the elementary, middle, and high school levels. He has provided Applied Behavioral Analysis (ABA) therapy to students with autism ranging in ages from 3-16. As a special education teacher with Norfolk Public Schools, he taught a group of 3rd and 4th grade students with Emotional Disabilities. Through the coordinated support of families, co-teachers, and supportive administration, his team of students (dubbed the “SuperDolphins”) achieved a collective SOL pass rate of over 80 percent. Mr. Turner currently works as a Special Education teacher at Green Run High School in Virginia Beach, Virginia, and believes strongly that relationship-building and play-based learning are the foundations of academic recovery and long-term success.