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In December a teacher at Sunnyside Elementary School contacted Gayle Ausmus, of United Way, about having some of the United Way Young Leaders come into her classroom and read with a few of the students that were struggling, and help them become better readers.
United Way Young Leaders are people between 20 and 40 who want to get involved in the community.
Before anything else could be accomplished Ausmus had to find out how many of the Young Leaders would be willing to commit to this project.
"I was really lucky," Ausmus said, "I received overwhelming support from the Young Leaders, and we will have plenty of volunteers for the project."
Other teachers at Sunnyside heard about the project and expressed interest in participating in it as well. Currently, there are four classes that the Young Leaders will work with, but Ausmus hopes to expand the program in the future. Her goal is to eventually spread the project out to include all the area schools.
The project will match a Young Leader volunteer with a child that is struggling with reading, and they will work to build those critical skills together.
The project began earlier this month, which is appropriate because January is mentoring month, Ausmus said.
One of the Young Leaders who is participating in this project is Chelsey Fisher, Main Street Dodge City.
"I really thought the project sounded like a neat idea to get involved with the children in the community," Fisher said. "Reading was a subject that was really emphasized when I was in school, so I feel it's important that we help these children see how important it is too."
Fisher is excited to work with the kids through the rest of the year, especially seeing how excited they get when we walk into the room she says.
Reach Julia Kazar at (620) 408-9913 or e-mail her at Julia.kazar@dodgeglobe.com
In December a teacher at Sunnyside Elementary School contacted Gayle Ausmus, of United Way, about having some of the United Way Young Leaders come into her classroom and read with a few of the students that were struggling, and help them become better readers.
United Way Young Leaders are people between 20 and 40 who want to get involved in the community.
Before anything else could be accomplished Ausmus had to find out how many of the Young Leaders would be willing to commit to this project.
"I was really lucky," Ausmus said, "I received overwhelming support from the Young Leaders, and we will have plenty of volunteers for the project."
Other teachers at Sunnyside heard about the project and expressed interest in participating in it as well. Currently, there are four classes that the Young Leaders will work with, but Ausmus hopes to expand the program in the future. Her goal is to eventually spread the project out to include all the area schools.
The project will match a Young Leader volunteer with a child that is struggling with reading, and they will work to build those critical skills together.
The project began earlier this month, which is appropriate because January is mentoring month, Ausmus said.
One of the Young Leaders who is participating in this project is Chelsey Fisher, Main Street Dodge City.
"I really thought the project sounded like a neat idea to get involved with the children in the community," Fisher said. "Reading was a subject that was really emphasized when I was in school, so I feel it's important that we help these children see how important it is too."
Fisher is excited to work with the kids through the rest of the year, especially seeing how excited they get when we walk into the room she says.
Reach Julia Kazar at (620) 408-9913 or e-mail her at Julia.kazar@dodgeglobe.com
