Serving & Supporting
Our Classrooms
What & WhY
Classroom Care Teams
Classroom Care Teams are 6-person teams who adopt a classroom and teacher to serve all year long. Teams work with the teacher to reinforce classroom concepts, read to small groups of students, or serve the teacher however is most needed. The goal is simple: love the heck out of our teachers so they are excited to serve our students.
You may be wondering, why do these teams matter? When we entered Thelma Parks Elementary school, they had dissolved their PTA, had a 90% turnover rate in faculty & had nowhere near the resources they needed. We noticed many of the teachers felt frustrated or abandoned by the underfunding. And with nearly 90% of the school’s students coming from single-parent homes, parents who had both the time to volunteer in their child’s classroom while working to provide for their families were seldom.
That’s where Classroom Care Teams come in. They’re our chance to tell those teachers, staff & students that they’re loved & cared for, no one has forgotten them &, as a matter of fact, they’re our priority. Classroom Care Teams remain our opportunity to leverage our resources to make sure every kid has functioning equipment, books & everything needed so they can flourish.
More Resources
Want even more out of your Classroom Care Team? Here are more educational videos & links we recommend. They cover everything from working with children from poverty to dealing with childhood trauma. You can also find more resources for working with kids from trauma here.
Ending Generational Poverty
RestoreOKC’s ministry arms are designed to work together to help whole families break whole cycles for their whole lives. What you do in Classroom Care Teams has a bigger impact than you see due to RestoreOKC’s other family support arms & advocacy.
Every Kid Needs a Champion
Rita Pierson, a teacher for 40 years, once heard a colleague say, "They don't pay me to like the kids." Her response: "Kids don't learn from people they don't like.'" A rousing call to educators to believe in their students and actually connect with them on a real, human, personal level.
Childhood Trauma & Health
Childhood trauma isn't something you just get over as you grow up. Pediatrician Nadine Burke Harris explains that the repeated stress of abuse, neglect & parents struggling with mental health or substance abuse issues has real, tangible effects on the development of the brain.
ready to Join a Team?
We are always looking for caring individuals who have a passion for serving our community’s schools. If you are interested in joining one of our Classroom Care Teams, consider volunteering today!