The gift of connection

Angela Guerra, a fourth-grade teacher in Austin, Texas, gladly affirms the positive effects of Academy 4 on her students in a recent interview with Cliff Mullen, Connections Minister at Westover Church in Austin.

“The most powerful gift that you can give to any fourth-grade child, any child, is that gift of time...that gift of connection” Ms. Guerra said. “And what you’re doing here, I want you to know, is impacting every single fourth-grade child at Pillow Elementary.”

Ms. Guerra describes how her students adore both Spark Clubs and time with their mentors, and explains that it is the regular individual interaction with adults that impresses her the most. “You know, there’s not a cellphone out, there’s not a screen in front of them. It’s not a test… It’s one-on-one time with their mentor,” she said.

​Watch the entire interview with Ms. Guerra below.​