CHESAPEAKE, Va. - As parents and students across Hampton Roads continue to wrestle with virtual learning due to COVID-19, one retired English teacher recognizes those challenges and is offering his services in his driveway.
"It makes me feel good."
That's why Tim Weston says he does this.
"[It] gives me a reason to get up and like I said, there's nothing like the feeling you get when a kid says, 'I get it.'"
Weston has been out in his driveway with a table, school supplies and chairs to help students with questions since the school year started with virtual learning due to the pandemic.
Tim used to teach in a Portsmouth middle school for 15 years. He retired about four years ago, but even in his retirement, he would still go back up to his old school and offer to volunteer. Well, now he's volunteering again - he just brought the classroom to his driveway.
"Maybe I can help. I'm retired, I can't go to the school, so I'll make myself a resource, so I set up shop."
He realizes it's not just to help students, but parents as well.
"Absolutely! And by the way, if parents want to come by and ask questions to help their own kids, be my guest!"
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He says people passing by are taking notice and taking action.
"I had a lot of people show interest of donating, so a woman came by and said, 'Here - pencil, pens, notebooks.'"
From 8-11 a.m., he's out in his Plantation Lakes Chesapeake neighborhood, which is where we surprised him with a News 3 People Taking Action award, along with a $300 Visa gift card from our community partner, Southern Bank.
It left him nearly speechless; he was very grateful.
To nominate someone for a People Taking Action Award, click here.
