Houston-Area Teachers Unite to Help Students Displaced During Hurricane Harvey

HOUSTON, Aug. 31, 2017 -- Teachers Volunteering in Shelters, a newly formed group of Houston-area teachers, is organizing to help children in the flood-ravaged areas of Southeast Texas brought on by Hurricane Harvey. In just two days, the organization already has more than 800 teachers from the area who have committed to meeting the needs of children and families displaced by the hurricane.

Due to the overwhelming needs, Teachers Volunteering in Shelters is still enlisting certified, experienced teachers to provide high-quality childcare and learning opportunities to children and teens of all ages. The group has already dispatched teachers to the George R. Brown Convention Center, NRG Center and Church of the Apostles Houston.

At the Church of the Apostles Houston, teachers are holding Community Circles – student-centered learning communities – to help both young and teenaged children process the recent trauma. They are also leading sessions in art therapy, story time, yoga, park time, math and board games and science experiments.

The group began on Facebook when Simone Kern, Director of Literacy Interventions at YES Prep Public, decided to put her administrative skills to work organizing teachers and connecting them with shelters in need.

“More than 200 shelters are currently operating in the Houston area to serve families impacted by Hurricane Harvey. Those families need high-quality childcare they can trust so they can take a shower, call the insurance company, work on their house and know that their kids are in good hands,” said Kern. “These children have been through incredible trauma and need to process and heal with skilled educators. Our kids are very vulnerable right now and we want to make sure childcare is safe, effective and therapeutic. Working with certified teachers is a great way to do that.”

Kristen McClintock, a member of the group and a special education teacher at West Side High School in Houston I.S.D, felt the need to do something to help children after Hurricane Harvey devastated the Houston area. As a special education teacher, McClintock was especially aware of the needs of children with autism, learning disabilities or other special needs.

“I was ready to start back to school this week. After Hurricane Harvey hit, I knew I needed to do something to help our students,” said McClintock. “One of the first things I thought about were those children with autism who are sensitive to noise. It’s loud in the George R Brown Convention Center, so I started out by setting up a ‘sensory space’ that would allow these kids to calm themselves. We’ve also had noise cancelling headphones donated, so that also helps.”

The newly-formed group will be coordinating with other area shelters and relief efforts to ensure that its teachers can provide childcare and educational services to as many children as possible. Shelters, relief organizations and those interested to make donations can contact the group via their website https://www.teachersvolunteeringinshelters.com. 

About Teachers Volunteering in Shelters
Teachers Volunteering in Shelters is a newly-formed group of Houston-area teachers that organized in the aftermath of Hurricane Harvey to assist families in the flood-ravaged areas of Southeast Texas. More information can be found at https://www.teachersvolunteeringinshelters.com. 

Media Contact: 
Sarah Gonzales                                                                                   
Teachers Volunteering in Shelters
[email protected]
832-621-6252