Volunteers praised for work in schools

At least two hours each week, Larson Elementary parent Francy Glashan can be found sitting somewhere in a classroom, reading with a child.

It's quiet work, not usually accompanied by much fanfare. But this year, the Mat-Su Borough School District is shining a spotlight on Glashan and other volunteers who help with assessment and intervention around the district.

At last week's school board meeting, the district began its recognition program with Glashan and 20 other Larson Elementary volunteers who participate in the school's Reading Fluency program. School district staff and board members applauded their work, shook hands with the honorees and gave them each a pin depicting four students and a U.S. flag, and the words "I Care."

"Because these people really do care," said district public information specialist Kim Floyd, who helped coordinate the event. "They are going above and beyond to help our children find success."

Floyd said each month at a board meeting the district will honor the volunteers from one school, and with more than 30 schools in the district she points out that the program will take some time.

"We know every school has volunteers and parents who are helping with assessments and intervention," Floyd said. "We need to do more to celebrate and recognize those things that are going really well, and thank the people who are helping."

Volunteers including Glashan say such attention isn't what motivates them to work in the classrooms, but she said it is nice to have the school and district notice their efforts.

Glashan has been volunteering at Larson Elementary since her daughter enrolled last year as a first-grader. During the course of the past two years, Glashan said she has been able to be involved in her child's education on a much more intimate level.

"It's very rewarding. You get to know the children," she said.

In addition to working with individual students each week, Glashan also assists the school in testing all the children each year to see how well they are reading.

Principal Karl Schleich said this is an invaluable service volunteers provide that allows the school to better assist students who need extra help in reading.

Schleich said because benchmark and other exam results do not come back until the end of the school year, or even the beginning of the next, it makes it difficult to respond in a timely manner. With the help of volunteers, however, the principal said Larson Elementary is able to test students' reading fluency at the beginning of the year, look at the results, and provide assistance to those who need it.

Working one-on-one with students, volunteers are then able to help them improve their scores the next year.

"And every child gets to show off their reading," Schleich said.

Glashan said she encourages other parents and community members to volunteer. While she recognizes that not all parents have the same amount of time to give, she said even coming in for a holiday event or special day during the year is rewarding.

"I think it's a good community service," she said. "Everybody benefits when children learn."