The Education Foundation of Odessa, in partnership with the AVID Program in Ector County ISD, has installed Tools for Success in strategic locations around Crockett Middle School.
Clear plastic compartments hung on the walls include basic supplies that students might need when they get to school such as pencils, highlighters, glue, notebooks and index cards.
A check for $5,000 from Walmart also was presented to replenish the supplies.
Representatives from AVID, Walmart and the Education Foundation and others were on hand for the presentation.
Principal Maribel Aranda said they do their best as teachers to give students whatever they need — from their own pockets.
“So this, I’ll be honest, just brings tears to my eyes. I hope our kids use it when they need it and they’re able to be successful. There’s no excuses in other words,” Aranda said.
Amy Anderson, AVID and postsecondary director for Ector County ISD, said students often don’t have the appropriate tools when they get to school. The containers are situated so students can have access to them during passing periods.
“This was a combination of AVID, organizing your materials, your time and your thoughts. But if you don’t have materials to organize, then that prevents you from doing that. So we’re making a display for Tools for Success for every student in the school. We have a sixth grade, seventh grade and an eighth grade station. … It’s right on their way to classes,” Anderson said.
She added that Walmart has donated $5,000 to the Education Foundation to replenish to keep the stations stocked.
“And then AVID has put in systems to make sure that that happens …,” Anderson said.
Corina “Tiny” Garza, who is on the Education Foundation Board, said they were happy to do this. She loved how it was displayed and how accessible it is to the students.
“I think it’s tremendous. What an opportunity for those that will need the supplies and it’s so readily accessible. Again, I just love the way they have displayed it here. As you walk as you’re through going through the hallway, just pick up what you need …,” Garza added.
AVID District Coordinator and AVID Excel Lead Virginia Hunt said students face expectations, but there are a lot of inequities and hardships at the same time.
“… We’re very grateful for the Education Foundation and for the campus for opening something like this for their students” and making sure those inequities are phased out, Hunt said.
Although the stations don’t involve anything fancy, district representatives were already thinking about improvements such as QR codes.
Hunt noted that it is one less barrier to student success.
Alliah Madrid, an AVID tutor at Odessa College, said she thinks the Tools for Success are great and will benefit them a lot.
“… It’s a great resource for them,” Madrid said.
Gerardo Camacho and Zaden Madrid, both 13-year-old eighth graders, agreed.
“I think it will really help everybody out with stuff they need and they can’t get … say their parents can’t get it for them,” Camacho said.
Hunt said they will be visiting Bonham Middle School with supplies Nov. 10.
“They’ve noticed that that was an area of need, even though it might be November we still have to focus on organization,” Hunt said.
