February 2022 Newsletter

December 2021 Newsletter
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Hybrid Tutoring Comes to Beulah Elementary

On a cold January morning, two new Reading Power colleagues, Site Coordinator Heather Sommers and Assistant Site Coordinator Summer Zilisch met at Beulah Elementary for the first time. They got to know each other over laptops and tangled charging cords as they set up the Reading Power space where hybrid tutoring was set to begin.

Summer knew the challenges of online learning all too well, having completed the last two school years virtually herself. Would the students pay attention and connect with their virtual tutors? Would the tutors overcome the technical challenges and issues that were sure to arise? Heather, a former Learning Specialist, worried about the flow and timing of the tutoring sessions. Would it feel too hectic and rushed to make a meaningful connection between tutor and student? 


When the program kicked off in late January, the two quickly put their worries behind them. 

“In those early days, what we saw,” shared Summer, “was, sure we had our technical issues, but both tutors and students were more than ready to meet the challenges. There was this positive energy and a deep desire for connection - on the part of both the students and the tutors.” 

 

 “We had to keep perspective,” Heather added. “Yes, we have benchmarks to meet and so much learning to accomplish, but the emotional benefit of the one-to-one time – for both tutor and student - cannot be underestimated. The rest will come.” 

Ready to join the team?


“Start before you’re ready,” Heather advised. “We’re all beginners at some point, and Summer and I are always here to help.”

 

Reading Power is seeking virtual tutors for the Beulah Elementary hybrid tutoring program. Enjoy the flexibility of tutoring from anywhere, while making meaningful one-to-one connections with students. Ample training and ongoing support are always provided. Sign up today!

Reading Power Tutors - Making Connections, Leading the Way

Connections allow the Reading Power family to DO MORE together to foster the promise of literacy. The relationships between students and Reading Power tutors help make learning possible. Below are comments from two virtual tutors, Diane B. and Mary H.

“Tutoring with Reading Power 'saved' me last year during the pandemic” virtual tutor Diane B. shared. “It was so much fun to meet new tutor friends on Zoom. Interacting with the students made me smile every day. I’ve always loved teaching and it was so great to be able to watch the students progress. Learning the technology was a challenge at first, but everyone was so enthusiastic and determined, I always felt a sense of accomplishment. I also loved the days we tutors shared the (adult) books we were reading. It made me feel like I was in a book club with fellow book lovers, and I always came away with a list of books to try!"

Mary H. is a retired D67 Learning Specialist. "Teaching through technology can be an excellent way to reach children one-to-one, with each student receiving focused learning time with a caring adult,” Mary stated. “We have great online reading resources, and the Reading Power staff are in school to help motivate and guide children. The hybrid program also expands the prospects for tutors who live far away from the sites. I know I join all the Zion tutors in our dedication to each student and our gratitude for the new hybrid Reading Power program."

Donor Spotlight


Thank you to Abbott for awarding Reading Power 2022 grant funds. The funding will help us continue to Extend, Expand, and Enhance our programming to reach more students in need.

Student Success Stories

This month, Reading Power celebrated several students who have exited the program after successfully meeting grade-level benchmarks. We are so proud of these students for working so hard to become independent readers! 

We're Inspired!

Reading Power staff was thrilled to attend the 2022 Reading Recovery Conference in Chicago last month. A highlight of the two-day conference was hearing speaker Lisa Pinkerton, contributing author to Responsive Literacy: A Comprehensive Framework, discuss the joy of reading and interactive read alouds. Site Coordinator Andrea Glickman shared, "Attending the Comprehensive Literacy and Reading Recovery Conference allows us the opportunities to learn practical tools in teaching reading that we can share with our tutors and students. The sessions led by Lisa Pinkerton, with her passion for books and wonderful sense of humor, reinforced an important goal that we have for our students, developing in them a love for books and reading."

Celebrating Black History Month

“Diverse literature enables students to see themselves as the heroes of the story…” Lily Eskelsen García 

Reading Power believes in the power of representation in early literature. Reading multicultural books: 


  • Helps people to better understand current world issues 
  • Exposure to multicultural literature increases awareness of the social practices, values, and belief systems of other cultures 
  • Promotes unity and empathy: people learn that not only are differences tolerated, but they are also embraced 
  • Promotes the interaction of children across different ethnic backgrounds 

 

Reading Power distributes over 3800 diverse, high-quality books to our students each year. In honor of Black History Month, here are recommendations for diverse children’s books.  

Our Mission

Working in partnership with underserved schools, 
Reading Power provides one-to-one tutoring during the school day 
for children in prekindergarten through second grade.  

Our mission is to accelerate children's literacy learning, 
and to develop in them a love of reading and writing. 
All children deserve to reach their intellectual potential.

Reading Power Board of Directors
Kathy McFarland, PhD, Chairman, CEO
Marra Lochiatto, MBA, Vice Chair
Kathleen Cowie, Secretary
Jim Young, MBA, Treasurer
Ann Bates, EdD
John Davidson 
Rob Davis, JD, MBA 
Suzanne Surkamer Dobbins
Mary Jane Hender, EdD
Todd Litzsinger
Rahul Malhotra, MBA
Melinda Mooney
Jacalyn Ramdin-Johnson, MBA
Beverly Raudabaugh, MBA
Frank Sibley
Arthur Turner
Mary Weber, MA
Tom Wood
Rev. Dr. Gordon Butcher, DMin, Emeritus
Reading Power Program Staff

Lisa Bulzoni, MEd, Executive Director of Programs and Operations

Kate Burke, BS, Marketing and Communications Manager

Daniela Cruz, Program Assistant

Nancy Duffy, Resource Development Manager

Kristin Fine, MEd, Associate Director of Programs/Site Coordinator

Joanie Alley, MSEd, Assistant Site Coordinator

Kate Bulzoni, BA, Assistant Site Coordinator

Katie Burdiak, BA, Assistant Site Coordinator

Jennifer Bruns, MST, Site Coordinator

Julie Collishaw, MA, Site Coordinator

Brooke Davis, MEd, Assistant Site Coordinator

Andrea Glickman, MAEd, Site Coordinator

Marla Guziec, BS, Site Coordinator

Mary Jane Hender, EdD, Site Coordinator

Joy McGreevy, BA, Site Coordinator

Cathy Plate, MSEd, Assistant Site Coordinator

Melayna Pokorny, BA, Office Assistant 

Elizabeth Soling, AA, Assistant Site Coordinator

Heather Sommers, MA, Site Coordinator

Summer Zilisch, Assistant Site Coordinator

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