Inside Maple Tree Elementary School, you’ll find two young men helping teach the students how to read and write.
Alfonso Lowe isn’t an official teacher there, but everyday when he comes into work, he feels like the 15 students in his class are his own.
“We’re the second line of defense. When you drop your kids off here, they get everything they need,” Lowe smiled.
Alfonso Lowe and Raynell Scales are fellows for the Literacy Lab’s Leading Men Fellowship. It’s a one-year program creating opportunities for young men of color to get involved in the field of education.
Everyday, Lowe and Raynell go to Maple Tree School to teach their pre-kindergarten students how to write their names, sing catchy songs, and play educational games.
“Maybe when they’re older, they’ll remember who Mr. Scales was. They’ll say he taught me to write my name left to right,” Scales smiled as he practiced writing letters next to his students.
While teaching, the fellows receive coaching and professional development during the year.