NORTH COLLEGE HILL, Ohio -- Teachers at North College Hill City schools are going the extra mile for their students -- literally. Staffers walked students home from school Thursday afternoon as part of an effort to create bonds that extend past the end of the school day.
First-year superintendent Eugene Blalock came up with the idea and said his school district will hold more walks like this in August and September.
“You know the saying," he said. “‘They don’t care how much you know until they know how much you care.’ We wanted to get our teachers out and about so the students can see us in a different light, so we can build those personal rapports."
North College Hill teachers and superintendent walking kids home from school today @WCPO pic.twitter.com/rEEAwFSGCd
— Ashley Zilka (@ashleyzilka) August 18, 2016
Teacher Ebon Wilder said the event was a great success.
“The best part was seeing the kids excited and them asking us, ‘When are you guys doing this again?’" she said. “It was an amazing experience, and I’m glad this is something we are doing this year."
About 1,700 students attend North College Hill schools, and most of them walk to and from school. Blalock said his long-term goal is to get the entire community out, about and interacting around 3 p.m. each day.
