We cannot expect our schools to weather this alone. It’s time to step up, bridge the gaps, and ensure every student in our city has the support, tools, and champions they need to thrive. We are launching a community-wide initiative to turn the tide, and we need your help.

Currently we have:  

1. A Broken Teacher Pipeline

Fewer young adults are entering education programs, and even fewer are completing student‑teaching. Districts are struggling to hire and retain qualified staff, leaving classrooms without consistent support.

2. A Post‑Pandemic Mental Health Crisis

Students are carrying higher levels of anxiety, depression, grief, and trauma. Teachers are expected to manage academic instruction and escalating emotional needs without enough hands in the room.

3. Shrinking Budgets as Federal Relief Funds Expire

ESSER funds — which temporarily stabilized schools — are ending. Districts are now forced to cut tutoring, SEL programs, and intervention staff, even as student needs continue to rise.

​Here is how you can take action today:

• ​Lend Your Time and Talent: Become a mentor, tutor, or after-school volunteer. Just one hour a week can change the trajectory of a student's life and provide much-needed relief to overwhelmed educators.

• ​Raise Your Voice: Advocate for our students. Attend local school board meetings, contact your state representatives, and demand equitable funding and resources for Ohio's urban districts.

• ​Pool Our Resources: Partner with us. Whether you are a local business offering internships, an organization providing supplies, or a neighbor making a donation, your contribution builds a stronger foundation for our classrooms.

• ​Build the Network: Share this mission. Talk to your neighbors, colleagues, and friends about the realities our schools face and invite them to join the movement.

​Don't let our students face the storm alone. 

Stand with us. Because when the community shows up, our schools don't just survive the storm—they rise above it.

This “perfect storm” creates a widening gap between what schools need and what they can afford. Your investment in Professional Internships directly fills that gap by bringing trained, motivated college and career‑development students into classrooms at the exact moment schools are losing capacity. 

Education & Psychology

University of Dayton • Wright State • Sinclair

How they support schools:  

• Direct academic tutoring, small‑group instruction, SEL support, and classroom engagement.

Career pathway need:  

• These hours build the essential student‑teaching and practicum portfolio required for state licensure.

Health Sciences & Occupational Therapy

Kettering College

How they support schools:  

• Assistance for students with developmental delays, sensory needs, or health‑wellness challenges.

Career pathway need:  

• Students must complete clinical observation hours to qualify for graduate medical, OT, PT, or PA programs.

Design & Marketing

Modern College of Design

How they support schools:  

• Creating visual identity for school programs, designing educational materials, and supporting digital engagement.

Career pathway need:  

• Students need portfolio‑ready projects to compete for corporate, nonprofit, and government communication roles.

1. The Near‑Peer Effect

College students (ages 18–24) are close enough in age to be relatable, yet old enough to model success. They become “living maps” showing K–12 students how to move from high school to career.

2. Filling the Resource Gap

Districts are understaffed in SEL support, tutoring, and one‑on‑one interventions. College interns provide the human capital schools cannot afford but urgently need.

3. Bringing Modern Skills Into the Classroom

Students from UD, WSU, Sinclair, Kettering, and Modern College bring fresh perspectives, new technology, and 21st‑century skills directly into K–12 learning environments.