Virtual tutoring for underserved students

During the coronavirus pandemic, students were forced into a remote learning environment. As they transition to in-person learning some children and their parents are finding it’s not easy. The Einstein Program, a privately funded New York based organization, has made it their mission to help low socioeconomic students from grades kindergarten to 12th grade by providing  free virtual tutoring services.  

“These are kids that strive to be better but because of their circumstances they don’t have the same opportunity that other kids have,” Joseph Melillo, director at the Einstein Program, said. 

The program has grown, although it remains virtual. Currently, the tutoring service has 20 teachers and 335 students enrolled with 47 students from Long Island and 36 students from the North Shore. Six of the program’s teachers work for North Shore students. 

Teachers are independently contracted and can create a flexible schedule that accommodates both the teacher and families. Heather Gioino, a teacher living in Glen Cove, has been working with the program for seven months. “It has been the best opportunity that came up for me,” Gioino said. 

She used to work in Catholic schools but when the pandemic hit and she had her daughter, Gioino, she decided not to return to in-person teaching. The Einstein Program gave her the chance to continue following her passion of teaching outside of the classroom while raising her daughter. 

“As much as I love teaching in the classroom, I feel that with the Einstein Program I am just able to build a closer connection with students and a personable relationship with them one-one-one,” Gioino said.

Some of her students live in Glen Cove. She works to boost her student’s confidence, while also serving  as a mentor.

“I am able to talk to them about their life experiences, their interests, and then we can grow on that in each lesson when I see them,” she said. “It doesn’t just have to be school related.” 

The program offers students one to two-40 minute lessons a week, depending on their social, emotional, and educational needs. And Melillo said, at least 15 minutes of “motivational, inspirational mentorship” is included.

“Being able to speak with a student like that is much more than just teaching them a math lesson,” Gioino said, “because you have to be able to get over those fears and reach those goals to achieve the academics.” 

Naureen Jaffar, a Glen Cove parent, has all three of her sons, ages 11, 6, and 5, enrolled in the Einstein Program, with her 11-year-old starting in August 2021. She said she did so to help her sons and herself with the anxiety they experienced when school returned to in-person. And it helped to close the educational gap caused by the pandemic. 

“They are academically very good, but they need other kinds of support like with anxiety, counseling,” Jaffar said. 

Jaffar’s five-year-old son is on the autism spectrum and started his sessions in February. Jaffar said the special education teacher has helped her son with reading, math and generalizations. 

“She is so amazing,” Jaffar said. “She understands. She handles my son’s anxiety and lack of attention very nicely.”

All of her children are excited to join in their lessons. “With consistency along with school, it has helped us,” Jaffar said. “[The] kids are very happy. They are eager.” 

The teachers create fun activities to keep the children involved and help them with extracurricular activities, such as spelling bees. 

Jaffar said she has access to the teacher outside of the sessions to help her with any problems her children may experience. “I can even tell the tutor about the week — the behavior I was seeing [and] the anxiety and concerns I saw with my child,” she said. 

Last year, Glen Cove Boys and Girls Club took part in the program. Melillo said that every Tuesday he would mentor about six children from the club on Zoom. Students of frontline workers can participate in the program for free. 

The Einstein Program also offers extracurricular activities, such as author events. And there is a  parent university, where feedback is offered on topics in which children struggle.