City of Tampa Partners with Seniors in Service to Launch New Mentoring Initiative
Castor’s Classroom Companions incentivizes volunteers, boosts student achievement
WHAT: Mayor Jane Castor and Seniors in Service CEO Robin Ingles are announcing the details of the new initiative alongside six classroom volunteers
WHEN: Wednesday, April, 20, 2022 at 11:00 a.m.
WHERE: B.T. Washington Elementary School, 1407 East Estelle Street
NOTE: Media will enter through the main office to access the press conference site
Teachers and students at a local school are receiving an extra pair of helpful hands in the classroom thanks to a partnership between the City of Tampa and Seniors in Service. The new Castor’s Classroom Companions initiative provides funding to place seniors, who serve as tutors and mentors to vulnerable students, inside of six classrooms at B.T. Washington Elementary School.
This new initiative is part of Seniors in Service’s Foster Grandparents Program which has placed more than 160 volunteers in Pre-K through 3rd grade classrooms throughout Hillsborough and Pinellas counties.
Castor’s Classroom Companions is launching with six volunteers from the community. The City hopes to expand the initiative in the coming years to help Seniors in Service place more seniors in classrooms at schools throughout Tampa. The funding from the City will help offset the costs associated with administering the program, which includes background checks, training resources, classroom materials, and stipends.