Mt. Vernon Register-News

Local

February 5, 2010

Middle schools seeking tutors

By RORYE O’CONNOR

rorye.oconnor@register-news.com

MT. VERNON — Mt. Vernon’s middle schools are in urgent need of volunteer tutors.

J.L. Buford Intermediate Center and Casey Middle School are looking for tutors in all subjects to volunteer for at least one hour a week through Project EXCEL.

“Our goal is to reach every child that needs help,” said Tina Mitchell, Project EXCEL coordinator. “We ask the community to help us reach that goal.”

Currently, Project EXCEL has approximately 25 volunteers, but needs at least 10 more, Mitchell said. She said several students were on a waiting list.

Students who would benefit from additional time with a tutor are referred by teachers, principals or even parents. Project EXCEL volunteers spend half-hour sessions with children.

Gordon Roberts, a Mt. Vernon resident, has been a Project EXCEL volunteer for nine years, helping first grade students with reading and spelling. Roberts volunteers one hour a week, he said.

“Kids need to know someone cares who doesn’t have to,” he said. “Many kids only have one parent, so they need to have someone else they know cares.”

Roberts said that over the years, he has enjoyed working with students who have behavior problems and helping them.

“It’s a very rewarding experience to help kids in the community, some who need help,” he said.

Mitchell said sometimes teachers don’t always have the time to reach every child with individual attention.

“Project EXCEL is designed to help elementary school kids master the building blocks of education,” she said. “Sometimes it’s not just education, but self-esteem and other issues that we work on with the kids.”

Mitchell said she has seen many positive results with the program, adding that it provides support, encouragement and confidence to the kids.

The extra time spent with the children is often just what they needed to succeed, Roberts said.

“Having somebody to work with a little bit more is a big help to these kids,” he said. “A lot of times it brings them up to the level.”

Roberts said he spent time tutoring a young man who was new to the United States, and that by the next year he was “doing great.”

“His parents said, ‘Thank you for helping my son,’” he said. “It’s definitely very rewarding. A hug and a smile from a student for no reason at all really makes it worthwhile.”

To sign up, contact Tina Mitchell, Project EXCEL coordinator, at the Primary Center at 244-8961.

Text Only
Local