EUCLID, Ohio — The head football coach at Euclid High School challenges his players, in the weight room and the classroom.
“Our whole thing is GFGF. Generosity, family, grades and football,” said Jeff Rotsky.
Rotsky said he earned two degrees from Case Western Reserve University and understands the value of education in the game of life.
Players are required to attend study table to help with grades, but some were still struggling with academic success.
When a friend mentioned a tutoring program offered by the non-profit organization Sewausa, Rotsky took the group up on the offer. Tutors visit the school at least twice a week, sometimes more.
Kenyohn Smith was one of the players who needed extra help.
Smith said he was getting “Fs in physical science and English. When I started going to tutoring — boosted my grades up."
SEWA International is a nonprofit organization working in 20 countries around the world. The group helps with disaster relief, community development and family and child welfare. In Cleveland, the group started a program called ASPIRE which gives kids extra help in academics.
“Through one-on-one tutoring, the students get help with homework and tests," said Business Owner, Sunil Narahari who also tutors. "We have seen tremendous development and improvement in these kids."
“We had 20 or our 29 seniors offered scholarships this year,” said Rotsky.
Phillip Patterson is one of them; he’s headed to Lake Erie College in the fall. He wants to become a principal.
“I like kids, I feel like I can influence kids because I know what kids like me have been though,” said Patterson.
The program is currently in Euclid and Garfield Heights. Because of the success of the program, next year there is a plan to expand the program to five schools tutoring 500 students.
