Beyond The Bell: Millwood Schools Doesn’t Let Pandemic Stop Student Success

Millwood High School is going big in their efforts to identify areas students need to improve and then get them extra time with teachers or tutors. A team of student support coordinators are working to give students every chance at success. 

Quentin Dixon coordinates the OU Upward Bound programs at several schools. He said he has seen students struggle but also show resilience. 

“The first thing, a lot of times, I say to my students is I believe in you. Just simply saying I believe in you, I believe that in spite of all the things that you are facing, in spite of all the things that you have had to overcome, you are here for a reason, you will succeed,” Dixon said. 

High school principal Phredd Evans said Millwood Schools came up with a plan of attack after realizing the damage done due to lost in-person learning time.

“Tutoring became that avenue of approach that we’re using here at Millwood which is so important for our kids,” Evans said. 

He said the monthly progress benchmarks were concerning coming back into the classroom this fall — so administrators are creating more spaces for students to stay on top of their academics. 

“This is a time where we really need to step up and really have in mind our student. Everything we do has got to be for the need of our students,” he said. 

Teachers tutor after hours and on Fridays when the school is virtual. 

University of Central Oklahoma students are coming to Millwood to support learning through the GearUp grant program, which has been going on since before the pandemic began. 

“They actually go into the classroom and they actually support the teachers during independent study time to help the kids with their homework,” said Mahogany Woods, program coordinator. 

Evans said athletes are mandated to go to tutoring. 

Oklahoma Christian University also stepped up to help with math and English.

“All of us got some help from somebody, somewhere along the way. so what I’m hoping to teach my students by bringing them here to be involved in this project, is that you need to give back. You need to give back early, you need to give back often,” said Gary Jones, Oklahoma Christian University's assistant dean of students.