The George B. Thomas, Sr., Learning Academy, Inc., (GBTLA), also known as the “Saturday School,” is a tutorial and mentoring program that was started by members of Mu Nu Chapter in 1986 following the vision of Mu Nu Chapter’s own Dr. George B. Thomas, Sr. Saturday School has enhanced the academic achievement of thousands of youth in Montgomery County, Maryland, over the more than 25 consecutive years of its existence. It began as an outgrowth of the Mu Nu Chapter’s Assault on Illiteracy program serving fewer than two dozen students in a single room, to providing tutorial and mentoring to more than 3,000 county students, grades 1 through 12, at 12 area centers located at 12 area high schools. Saturday School operates annually from October to May with the support of Mu Nu Chapter, community volunteers, professional administrators and educators, and Montgomery County officials and sponsors. The Saturday School program’s accolades include the State of Maryland Literacy award from the Governor, and recognition as one of the top-ten tutorial/mentoring programs in the Nation awarded by the Association of Cities and Counties.
The George B. Thomas, Sr., Learning Academy, Inc., (the Saturday School), a tutoring and mentoring program, has been in operation since 1986 and has enhanced the academic achievement of thousands of children in Montgomery County, Maryland. It began as an outgrowth of the Assaults on Illiteracy Program of Mu Nu Chapter of Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc. The program serves students in grades 1 through 12, and as the name implies, operates on Saturday mornings from 8:30 am to 11:00 am, October through May.
Improving academics is the major role of the Saturday School but aspects of students’ self-esteem, social and emotional growth, and personal goals that impact school success are also addressed.
Saturday School tutors are community and parent volunteers, retired teachers, high school and college students, individuals from the business, medical and legal professions. In addition to the volunteers, certified teachers serve as lead tutors to assure program consistency and quality. Although the program is open to all students, it is targeted to those having the most difficulty with academic performance.
In 1995, the members of the Mu Nu Chapter of Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc., renamed Saturday School as the George B. Thomas, Sr., Learning Academy, Inc., in honor of its founder and Mu Nu Chapter founder, and has been officially incoporated as a nonprofit organization by the State of Maryland. We are also a member of United Way (Organization Number: 8291) and the Combined Federal Campaign (Number: 56679).
Each year, Mu Nu Chapter sponsors a Golf Tournament to raise funds for this worthy program. The funds benefit all of the center locations throughout Montgomery County, Maryland. Mu Nu Chapter also sponsors an annual GBTLA Donation drive.
Center Locations:
- Montgomery Blair High School
- Albert Einstein High School
- Gaithersburg High School
- John F. Kennedy High School
- Magruder High School
- Northwest High School
- Paint Branch High School
- Rockville High School
- Sherwood High School
- Springbrook High School
- Watkins Mill High School
- Wheaton High School