Without access to internet service, virtual schooling was hardly an option for Jenna’s family when COVID-19 hit.
Jenna had just been adopted by her long-term foster family, and though they’d seen her levels of confidence and comfort increase greatly in that time, she was still very shy and struggling with a number of learning disabilities. It was especially essential for Jenna that, somehow, her education continue uninterrupted by the pandemic.
Upon finding out about High Rocks Educational Corporation, a Partners in Prevention team in Greenbrier County, the family experienced enormous relief at this wonderful opportunity: Jenna could resume her tutoring there, with COVID-19 precautions in place.
During her first virtual tutoring sessions, Jenna was nervous—but she wasn’t alone. A Partners in Prevention team member was by her side the whole time to help unlock her potential.
Initially, when Jenna was asked a question, she would respond only in a tiny whisper and (over Zoom) the tutor couldn’t hear her at all. In the middle of the second session, though, the Partners in Prevention team member privately messaged the tutor to ask Jenna about her cat, as her mom had earlier mentioned that this was an exciting new addition to the family. Right away it was like a switch had been flipped: Jenna lit up, and for the next twenty minutes, she gushed and chattered on about her new pet. Her fear was gone, and she was ready to start learning.
Now when Jenna enters High Rocks, she bounces in like she owns the place, gives the scoop on her week (and cat), and gets right into tackling her homework with the tutor.