Local teacher going above and beyond to help students struggling with distance learning

A Twin Cities teacher is going above and beyond to make a difference in the lives of current and former students during the pandemic.

She started a private tutoring and mentorship program to help those struggling with distance learning.

Demetria Poe, a local teacher and CEO & founder of Scholar School, LLC, said, "Anyone I connect with, or know, or get to teach, I’m always wanting to keep up with them. I feel like God has given me a gift of having such a big heart."

Poe said she’s using that gift to empower children. Even former students, like Faliean Lor. Poe said, "Even though you’re not in my classroom anymore doesn’t mean you’re not family to me."

So, during the pandemic, Poe founded Scholar School, "There was a need. I really felt like the scholars needed some more support, with this new way of learning."

To help, Poe is doing reading assessments, testing for comprehension and word recognition and performing private tutoring sessions.

Faliean Lor’s mother, Lee Yang, said, "It’s a big deal…I feel like she has lost a lot of interest in school, where she doesn’t really want to learn…I feel like she has lost hope."

Lor said she was happy and surprised when Poe called twice during the pandemic to check on her daughter’s progress.

Yang said, "I told her the categories that Faliean was kind of falling behind on, and then she offered if she could come in and evaluate where Faliean is at."

It’s a life-line for her first-grader.

"I feel very happy to see her again," Lor said.

Poe is a familiar face, helping her navigate unfamiliar territory.

Poe said, "I’m so in love with the idea of keeping in touch with my kids, watching them grow, even beyond my classroom, and I feel like I’m the teacher that I always needed and wanted as a child."

Poe is continuing her tutoring services through Scholar School this summer. To learn more, go to the link here.