Two Virginia Beach schools, Holland Elementary School and Corporate Landing Middle School, now have access to a new Day Watch Program for African American male students who have received three to 10 days suspension for behavioral issues. The new program is being offered by the non-profit organization Men of Faith.

According to Dr. Esther Monclova-Johnson, the new program is designed to help struggling students regain their academic purpose through a comprehensive outreach that gives them access to accomplished mentors. Men of Faith is an organization that represents seven African American churches located in Virginia Beach.  Dr. Monclova-Johnson helped negotiate the launch of this new Day Watch Program, along with three individuals from Men of Faith who will coordinate the program on site at Piney Grove Baptist Church. They are three retired educators: Rev. Paul Evans Jr., Netfa Fodiaba, and Doris Davidson.

“Because of the challenges young African American boys face today, it is important that the community organize and provide effective programs designed to empower them to succeed not only in the classroom, but also in every aspect of their lives,” says Rev. Evans. “We believe the Day Watch program will help these students make a complete turn around in their lives.

Evans notes that volunteers will work under the supervision of the three coordinators. ““The Day Watch Program volunteers have myriad experiences and expertise to share with these young students. The goal is to help them stop self-sabotaging habits that are hurting their chances of becoming productive students in school. Each volunteer will endeavor to transform student participants into ambassadors who will promote academic excellence and who will encourage others to adhere to school rules and regulations as well as community expectations.”

Parents of African American males who have received a long-term suspension at Holland and Corporate Landing will have the option of enrolling their children in the Day Watch Program. Students will be responsible for arriving at the site daily with supplies and academic assignments from their core classes – English, math, science and social studies – to complete.  This will enable students not to miss lessons while out of school due to suspension. The students’ respective schools will collect their work for grading.

Each student will be assigned to a mentor who will meet with the student for an hour during the school day. Students may also be required to perform some community service under the supervision of their mentors. Students and their parents are responsible for lunch and transportation. No more than seven students will be assigned to each instructional staff member. The program may use interns from accredited college education programs to serve as tutors or mentors.

Evans is a retired educator from the Rochester New York City School District. A former New York City police officer, he became a minister in Rochester and later served with ministries in Africa, Europe, the Caribbean and Central and South America. Fodiaba previously worked as a counselor and coordinator of special programs for exceptional and disruptive students in the U.S. Virgin Islands and in New York. Davidson spent her professional career in the Norfolk Public Schools where she served as a science teacher and science department chairperson.

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