Susanna Holloway, right, a teacher in the Hospital School program, explains a math concept to Jason Hill, 11, left, and Mitchell Sawicki, 12, in the new K-12 multiage classroom at Monroe Carell. (photo by Susan Urmy)
Learning doesn’t stop once a child is admitted to Monroe Carell Jr. Children’s Hospital at Vanderbilt.
For 30 years, Monroe Carell has provided tutoring and academic enrichment to help children maintain a sense of normalcy and to support learning during a patient’s hospital stay.
The K-12 Hospital School Program recently opened its new classroom located on the 14th floor of Monroe Carell.
For 11-year-old Jason Hill, having the ability to “go to school” during a hospital stay for cancer treatments has been a positive aspect of his experience.
“I think it’s fun,” said Jason, who was recently diagnosed with myelodysplastic syndrome, a rare bone marrow disorder in which stem cells fail to mature into healthy red and white blood cells and platelets.
“I like coming to this space for school because there are less people and it’s easier for me to focus. School is one of my favorite things,” said the sixth grader at Smyrna Middle School. “I like when I am here because I get more help and practice work when I am confused about something.”
Jason’s sentiments are not uncommon, according to the school program teachers.
The multiage classroom is a brightly lit space that is equipped with tables and chairs, books, laptops, academic resources, two 3D printers and more.
“I think that a lot of people presume that kids don’t want to come to school when they are in the hospital,” said Tisha Coggin Clay, MEd, Assistant Manager of the Hospital School Program at Monroe Carell. “They get a chance to work on assignments with somebody instead of sitting alone in their rooms or waiting until they return to school.
“Some of our teens come in and use the space like a study hall,” said Coggin Clay. “It’s another outlet for them to use — they can get out of their room, work independently or get assistance if they want or need it.”
The classroom is open Monday through Friday, with set programming on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursdays from 1 to 3 p.m. Enrichment is available in the mornings including Tech Tuesdays and creative writing on Wednesdays.
The school program has four hospital-funded schoolteachers assigned to patients based on diagnosis to provide bedside and classroom instruction. Teachers also serve as liaisons for patients and their primary school to coordinate schoolwork and homebound services. They also educate the school community about a student’s diagnosis and how to support them.
Metro Nashville Public Schools also provides a teacher, Diantay Westbrook, for the Davidson County-enrolled patient population.
When the classroom is in full session, the student-to-teacher ratio is 3-to-1. A volunteer is also assigned to each teacher. Patients are also supported by the Vanderbilt Student Volunteers for Science program which brings hands-on science lessons to the bedside.
The hospital, which opened in 2004, was designed with a classroom. As the hospital grew, so did the need for more teachers. The classroom space also served as an office for the teaching staff. Playrooms were used during their “off hours” as temporary classroom spaces.
“We have been pivoting with our classroom space until now,” said Coggin Clay. “It’s very important that we normalize the hospital stay and offer space for patients/students to be with peers, even if they are not the same age. It seems to have a positive impact on the patients.”
The team is excited about the new space and looking forward to the opportunities to support socialization, learning and help students maintain academic skills.
School teachers joining Coggins Clay include Susanna Holloway, Lesley Thompson and Janine Smith.
To celebrate the new space, the Hospital School Program will host an open house in room 14003 — the area before entering the patient pods in the elevator lobby — on Thursday, Nov. 12 from 3 to 4:30 p.m. Employees are invited to stop in to explore the classroom, meet the teachers and learn more about what the school program offers.
