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SALT LAKE CITY — Kids exchanged valentines at school parties all over Utah, but at Fielding Elementary, all students had a valentine wish for one person — their reading tutor.
A year ago, Camille Trimble was on her way to Fielding to read with her students when she lost control of her car on slick roads and crashed. She almost died.
She spent a year recovering and rehabbing and is now ready to return and reunite with her students. The school held what they told her was a reading assembly, but they surprised her with a valentine tribute.
“Stand up Camille and give a wave,” said Principal Scott Hunsaker.
When she turned around, Camille was surprised by hundreds of students, community members and fellow tutors cheering her on and holding banners welcoming her back.
Trimble and 26 other members of the tiny community take part in KSL’s Read Today AmeriCorps program. She received Read Today roses as part of the celebration.
“We look at the accident now as the biggest blessing that could have happened,” Trimble said. “We’ve never felt alone in anything, and that’s the key to why I’m better.”
She understands, but she said doctors don’t know how she healed the way she did. She says the children provided her cards, letters and motivation to get healthy.
“The only reason I get to do any of that is because of, mainly because of all these sweet kids, said Trimble. “And their love and support helped all along the way.”
Trimble believes the kids helped save her life, but she’s changing theirs.
“She was really nice, she taught me lots,” said Sarah, a second grader.
Students in the Read Today program made double the expected progress on Dibels reading test scores. And a small army of senior citizens, PTA moms and community volunteers logged 727 hours as of January 31.
“A lot of students need one-on-one help to reach the potential they have, said Superintendent Ron Wolff. “And that’s what these volunteers do.”
Assistant Superintendent Mark Kay Kirkland added, “We’re all a community of learners and that’s why we appreciate our volunteers so much.”
Students develop relationships with their tutors that do as much to help their self-esteem as their reading, and AmeriCorps Coordinator Ann Belk believes that is just as important.
“The most gratifying thing about that is when you see the relationship build, I see kids that want to come to school, where before they weren’t wanting to come,” Belk said.
And now that Camille Trimble has rejoined the tutor ranks, the community of learners is once again complete.
To be “all in” for Education in Utah, go to readtoday.com and become a tutor in your neighborhood school.
