TCU students give more than time

Fort Worth, TX

11/19/2009

By: Christi Aldridge, Schieffer School of Journalism

Walking into the Starpoint School, it is easy to see why TCU students love to volunteer there. The school radiates joy and hope, and the origin of that happiness is the school’s director, Marilyn Tolbert. Tolbert’s smile is contagious and the echoes of laughter heard down the hallways are only the beginning of what makes this school so special.

Tolbert, who has been the school’s director since 2003, feels very strongly about her job and the school. When asked why she chose this job, she simply says, “It is my passion.” She also mentions that some students have changed their major to education after being around the children at the school.

Starpoint and its adjoining school, KinderFrogs, make up TCU’s lab schools for special education. TCU is the only university in the nation with two lab schools for special education. Starpoint students start at 6 years old and go up to 11. The school teaches children with learning disabilities such as dyslexia. KinderFrogs is a preschool for children with Down syndrome. Down syndrome prevents children from learning at the same rate other children do, Tolbert said. They also have delayed motor skills, which is why physical therapy is so important.

The children learn basic curriculum as well as therapeutic learning, which combines physical therapy and teaching. The children study basics such as colors, but also work on speech and language therapy. Enrollment is limited and the Starpoint School admits only about 10 new students a year. KinderFrogs takes two or three new children every year. The school also has a gymnasium, computer lab, and fully equipped classrooms. 

The school boasted over 4,200 volunteer hours for the last academic year, Tolbert said. What’s surprising about the student volunteers is that not all of them, or even the majority of them, are education majors.

Brent Folan, a freshman business major from Chesterfield, Mo., said he volunteered with his mom at a similar school in St. Louis. Also, his fraternity, Pi Kappa Phi, is involved with the school and the brothers help out as much as they can. There are other benefits to service, said Folan. 

“I really enjoy going in each week and seeing how excited the kids get when I arrive,” Folan said. “Even though they are so young, you become great friends with them. It is so neat to see how much they appreciate the little things in life. This is a great place to get away from all the college stress and help make a difference in each of the children's lives.”

Tolbert said volunteers come from all majors, including business, nursing, kinesiology and nutrition. Some people just love coming to play with the kids. Luke Harville, a political science major from Houston, Texas, volunteers at Starpoint every single day. 

“The staff spends every day working to better the lives of these kids and many times the sacrifices they make go unnoticed,” Harville said. “They really are heroes in my eyes. The reason I continue to go back every day is because though I have no training or practice in early childhood education I feel that by building a connection with the students and being a stable support for them, I help in some small way.”

Harville stated that volunteering is the best part of his day, and stressed that even if people would give only one hour a day they could better their life and the lives of the students. He enjoys reading books to the children and participating in music time.

TCU and its College of Education have an advantage that other schools don’t have. Having these two lab schools on campus is a tremendous help to students who want to go into teaching, specifically in the special needs area. Hands on practice, observation and participating as aides are a few ways that education students can get specialized training for their careers.

Lauren Guerra is a graduate of TCU from San Antonio, Texas with a degree in Early Childhood Education. She is now working towards her master’s degree in special education, and considers the Starpoint School a valuable resource.

“It was through my classes that I was first offered the opportunity to work and volunteer at the school,” Guerra said. “I completed my student teaching at KinderFrogs and I now substitute for both Starpoint and KinderFrogs. It is a wonderful environment. Both schools are filled with understanding and love.”

“At the age of these children, most acknowledge differences and question reasoning. At Starpoint school, it is understood by all that we are different. The children understand these differences and know that this is what needs to happen so we can all learn together. Outsiders might be confused by the strong structure of the school program but this is what these children need. Routine and scheduling is crucial for children with disabilities, this offers them comfort in their environment as well as self-awareness.” 

Guerra feels that having the student volunteers at both schools is an asset for the children. She stated that the children need role models and mentors to look up to, and the TCU students also make the children feel like a part of the TCU family by including them in projects such as the Homecoming parade and tailgate parties. The children are not only a part of their own school but a part of their surrounding community as well.

The teachers are also moved by the volunteers’ presence. Kristen Adams is a teacher who has been working at Starpoint for nine years. “I feel our volunteers provide some valuable one-on-one attention for our students,” Adams said.

“Even during play, our kids are constantly learning concepts as well as social skills from appropriate modeling. Some students volunteer on a regular basis throughout their college career and become favorites of the students. I also feel the TCU volunteers get a lot from our students. There have been numerous students who express surprise at how capable our students are - we maintain very high expectations for our students.”

The Starpoint School and KinderFrogs are a shining example of what makes TCU such an amazing school. TCU students are putting in more than time at KinderFrogs, they are making lasting memories.  

“They are an invaluable part of our program, and we love to have them come and work with the children,” Tolbert said.