REAADY Foundation connecting students with mentors, support for new school year
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A Bradford Woods resident is connecting retired teachers with students who are navigating the unique circumstances of this year’s return to school.
Ken Nickel, founder of the REAADY Foundation, has launched the Open-Door Mentor program that pairs displaced and retired educators with students who are learning remotely from home.
Nickel is a former principal dancer with the Pittsburgh Ballet Theater. He founded the non-profit REAADY Foundation with the hope of supporting students’ educational and artistic abilities.
Through its newest program, teachers will offer learning support to supplement virtual lessons that many students will be tasked with this year.
For example, Shaler Area School Board approved a four-week online return to school for all grade levels. Fox Chapel Area students will have at least three days of remote learning, or, they can choose a full-time online schedule.
Nickel said he is currently collecting information from prospective instructors and students.
“Since the ratio will be one instructor per family, the number will be limited to the instructors we have available,” Nickel said.
Teachers will meet 3 to 5 days a week for at least three hours a day. Cost starts between $25 to $28 an hour.
“We will customize a program to meet the unique needs of each family,” Cheryl Aughton, communications director, said.
She said the program is aimed at middle and high school students. Instructors will have all required state clearances.
“We see this program as a win for the students who will be empowered to succeed, a win for school districts where education will be enhanced through the use of blended learning and a win for parents who will have time to focus on their financial responsibility at a critical time,” Nickel said.
The Pittsburgh-based foundation’s mission includes helping students, giving back to the community and partnering with local businesses to assist in the programs. Nickel said the group recognizes that many children don’t have equal access to technology and educational support for online learning.
“We want to continue to bridge this divide so that all students can have equal access and opportunities,” he said.
Earlier in the pandemic, Nickel choreographed a dance called “Our Heroes Our Lifeline” with some of his former dancers.
“We teamed up with the Greater Pittsburgh Community Food Bank and created a GoFundMe page where all of the proceeds went to them,” he said.
“This was a way to say thank you to all our doctors, nurses and all first responders of Pittsburgh and also help the families of Pittsburgh in need.”
The link is available at gofundme.com/f/our-pulse-our-heroes.
To apply to be a mentor or to register for the program, visit reaadyfoundation.org.