The Scottish Rite, NMJ is proud to announce that the Children’s Dyslexia Centers have successfully implemented virtual tutoring for all our students across the jurisdiction during this health crisis. As of today, 100% of the Centers are up and running with 415 tutors at work teaching 815 students who are at home.
“Many of us have heard, seen, or experienced first-hand the challenges of remote learning,” said Brother Dave Sharkis, 33°, Director of Operations for Children’s Dyslexia Centers. "As you can imagine, these challenges are exacerbated for students with learning disabilities who can no longer receive one-on-one attention from a qualified teacher."
“It has been incredibly busy setting up our online tutoring during this crisis,” he continued. “We have had some very long days, but the dedication of the staff to get this done has been remarkable. The importance of continued remediation for the children in our program cannot be overstated, and that has made every minute worthwhile.”
Brother Sharkis estimates that the organization will soon hold over 500 meetings a day!
The importance of the work of the Children’s Dyslexia Centers cannot be stressed enough. It is estimated that up to one out of every five people have dyslexia, affecting both boys and girls equally. While dyslexia is a learning disability that makes it difficult for children and adults to read, write and spell, the effects of dyslexia can reach well beyond the classroom.
When left untreated, not only do children fall behind their peers and struggle in school, they also are more likely to experience low self-esteem, have difficulty expressing themselves and connecting with others, and are more likely than their non-dyslexic peers to drop out of high school. Left undiagnosed or untreated, these effects can linger, causing children to grow into adults who are unable to contribute to society at their full potential. Early intervention has been cited as most effective in mitigating these effects, highlighting the critical need for continued support during a time where schools are closed or unable to provide sufficient individual assistance.
The Scottish Rite, Northern Masonic Jurisdiction has proudly supported the Children’s Dyslexia Centers (CDC) for more than 20 years. Donating over $5 million to CDC in 2018 alone, the more than 14,000 children the centers support have always remained near to Scottish Rite Masons’ hearts. That’s why we are proud to share that, thanks to the dedication of CDC staff and volunteers, tutoring will not be disrupted during these challenging times.
If you’d like to support the Children’s Dyslexia Centers in their work to provide free and affordable tutoring to children and families in need, you can donate your time as a volunteer tutor or provide monetary assistance here.