Estimated read time: Less than a minute
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 Information in the story may be outdated or superseded by additional information.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.
(KSL News) -- One man in Salt Lake is making a difference one child at a time. Bob Black drives his motorized wheelchair over one mile to Parkview Elementary four times a week. He's not a teacher going to work, he's a volunteer going because he cares. And today, Black received Salt Lake City School District's Volunteer of the Year award.
Bob Black: "I'm really honored by this. I don't really think that I deserved much more than just a pat on the back."
But teachers and community members believed otherwise and nominated Black for the annual award.
Black tutors fourth and second graders in reading and helps them discover new worlds through books. By getting to know each students' interests, Black chooses specific books he knows will excite them.
In most cases, his attention to detail pays off. In just one year, some students' reading levels have jumped two to three years.
Daphne Williams, Superintendent of Community Involvement: "He's just a fixture here and a positive role model for kids."
Black is a retired journalist and has been volunteering at Parkview Elementary for ten years.
