Estimated read time: 3-4 minutes
This archived news story is available only for your personal, non-commercial use. Information in the story may be outdated or superseded by additional information. Reading or replaying the story in its archived form does not constitute a republication of the story.
SALT LAKE CITY — The sight of a police squad entering an elementary school might cause initial concern. But when those officers walk into a class for their weekly tutoring session, students eagerly show off their progress.
“They help me in the words that I don’t know or what does it mean,” said sixth-grader Fernanda Agustin.
Her tutor is Deputy Chief Anita Schwemmer with the West Valley Police Department.
“Reading has been a very important part of my life since I was Fernanda’s age, so I really enjoy coming and reading,” Schwemmer said.
West Valley’s Police Department is one of the latest in a steady stream of organizations and businesses that are joining the Read Today AmeriCorps program to help struggling readers in Utah schools.
They and many other professionals are finding, no matter what their line of work, helping Utah students is good business.
“We started off on the third-grade level reading and we’re finishing off the second half of fifth-grade level,” said tutor James Derrick.
He and a few dozen other colleagues from the Larry H. Miller Group spend their lunch hour one day a week reading with students at a school near their workplaces.
Tutor Tad Thorley explains how they spend 10 minutes reading, 10 minutes on vocabulary and then move to science vocabulary.
The goal is to work with them, and that one- on-one time that we can give them really makes a difference.
–Phil Yorgason, Read Today AmeriCorps coordinator
When asked how she liked the tutoring program, fourth-grader Ariana Baldini heaved a heavy sigh with a smile.
“It’s been a long week,” Baldini said. “She’s really making me read a lot.”
Coordinators at Midvalley Elementary say that repeated practice is what moves the needle on reading scores.
“The goal is to work with them, and that one-on-one time that we can give them really makes a difference,” said Phil Yorgason, Read Today AmeriCorps coordinator.
Many of the businesses have joined on as part of the “We’re All In” campaign launched by Read Today and Prosperity 2020. Commercial spots encourage companies to support education in Utah not just with their money, but their time. Gov. Gary Herbert and the Utah Commission on Volunteers have offered their support to the message.
For the Larry H. Miller Group, being “all in” is part of the company mission.
“We try to do a lot for the community,” said Carisa Miller, LHM Management Co. “We make the community we do business in a better place.”
Employees at Deseret Management Corp., who have also joined the “We’re All In” ranks, appreciate the opportunity provided by their employer.
“They give us the time twice a week to come here, and it shows they really do believe in their mission,” said DMC employee Mike Elifritz.
He and other colleagues of KSL’s parent company read at Bountiful’s Adelaide Elementary and other schools near their homes.
Linda Stokes practiced reading with her student Cash. On this day, he scored 97 without missing any words.
“Good job!” she said, sparking a beaming smile from her student.
“It’s pretty fun and it makes me feel happy,” Cash said.
But Stokes makes a point to clarify, it’s not just the students who see benefits from this movement of service.
“These kids need this kind of help,” she said. “But I have to tell you, they’re teaching me some things, too.”
Read Today and Prosperity 2020 are now recruiting companies and employees to tutor for next school year. There are pledge forms that declare “We’re All In,” and connections will take place over the summer.
For more information, go to Readtoday.com.
