For years, third-grade students at Dr. WT Griggs Elementary School on the banks of the Currituck Sound have lagged in reading, and Principal Barbara Tidd prayed for a miracle that might change that. Little did she realize the miracle was right next door.
Sharon United Methodist Church sits adjacent to Griggs Elementary in the Poplar Branch community of Currituck County. Church team members participating in the NC Rural Center’s yearlong Faith in Rural Communities Connect Church program discovered they had an underused building, a wealth of experienced teachers, and a passion to help their community.
“The Connect Church process forced us to look at our assets and our needs, as well as the assets and needs of the community,” said Jeanne Murray, co-director of Sharon UMC’s Literacy Enrichment Tutoring Program. “The information we got was really revealing. We found that our county, our congregation and our team had loads of assets that we had not even thought about, and education was one of them.”
The new Literacy Enrichment Tutoring Program developed by Sharon UMC provides one-on-one tutoring for third-grade students who need help reading.
“Our teachers have always had support from Sharon UMC. When they approached us about the tutoring program I was so excited,” Tidd said. “We started talking at the end of last school year when they learned the program might get funded. We examined what the logistics would look like and lined up all the permissions so when they received the funding we were able to start the next month. It was amazing.”
Griggs Elementary is a federal Title I school, meaning more than 40 percent of its students are classified as economically disadvantaged.
“As a Title I school, it is important for students to know how to read. I have seen where they go down the wrong path if they’re not able to read,” Tidd said. “I believe it’s out of frustration. When you can’t read, you become frustrated, and you tend to make the wrong choices. Having Sharon UMC’s tutoring program hopefully keeps our students on the right path.”
Staying on the right path is not only important for students, but the church as well.
“Working in the Connect Church program, you go through questions that are asked each month,” said Sharon UMC pastor Rev. Toni Wood. “Interviews with people outside the church are insightful in letting us learn what people think of the church, as well as learn the needs of the community. As you work through each and every month, the Connect Church coach encourages you to look at different aspects of that community. That was very helpful.”
Rev. Wood joined Sharon UMC after the former pastor Rev. Susan Lindblade suddenly passed away. Rev. Wood had also completed the Connect Church Program at her previous appointment.
“We could have gotten very discouraged, but our Connect Church coach kept us encouraged. The program itself kept us asking new questions. So we were able to look at the whole process with a new set of eyes, which I don’t know that we could have done without the support of the NC Rural Center staff.”
The Rev. Toni Wood, Sharon UMC pastor
“What a team thinks it wants to do in the beginning often ends up being something completely different in the end,” Rev. Wood explained. “We could have gotten very discouraged, but our Connect Church coach kept us encouraged. The program itself kept us asking new questions. So we were able to look at the whole process with a new set of eyes, which I don’t know that we could have done without the support of the NC Rural Center staff.”
With a Sunday attendance of 40 to 50 parishioners, the project initially seemed outside the comfort zone of Sharon UMC. Their “moment of grace” came when they realized the community, the school system and its Parent Teacher Organization were willing to help the program succeed.
“We realized we had a great building that we could use. We proceeded with interviews at the school to find out their needs. Then their leadership team helped select the students. We then interviewed and hired teachers. The program just came together and we started our tutoring program,” said program co-director Iris Meekins, a retired educator of 31 years, 24 of them at Griggs Elementary.
Teachers evaluate and assess students in the program to identify what specific reading skills need to be addressed.
The current fourth-grader was in the inaugural class of the program last year. A foster child adopted by Brett and Jamie Laravie, Mowery’s transformative reading journey, initially marked by a dislike for reading, was ignited by inspiration from her grandmother, ongoing family encouragement, and the Sharon UMC tutoring program.
Both Laravie and his wife are in the education field, with Brett working in the office at Griggs Elementary and his wife as a teacher at another school. Last year, Patience scored a 7 on her state reading test. Through tutoring, she discovered a love of reading that resulted in frequent summer visits to the library.
“Well, it’s kind of hard to put into words. Reading just wasn’t very interesting to me. I took the after-school program and gave it a chance. I improved my reading score to 70 by the end of the year. And this year I’ve gotten an 87.5,” said the young girl proudly.
“When Patience came to us through the foster program she was in kindergarten. She couldn’t read a word,” Laravie explained. “My wife, a teacher of 24 years, worked hard every night to get her to read, but became frustrated. She just wasn’t improving.
“Fast forward to this program. I think the thing that helped her the most was reading out loud every day for hours. What that did is get her to understand how to read, as well as understand what she was reading. Now it’s fun for her to read to us. We read a lot of nights. The program has been a phenomenal help to my family and helped Patience in ways she doesn’t even realize yet.”
Why does the Sharon UMC twice-weekly after-school tutoring program work where others fail?
“I would say because we’re focused. We have the experience. Everyone has been a teacher in this program,” Cotton explained. “We’ve got the resources, and we know how to focus in on certain skills and aspects each child needs to enhance reading skills, such as comprehension and vocabulary. Most importantly, we have the time. Sometimes the parents and schools don’t always have the time.”
“The Connect Church program utilizes school-provided and state-mandated materials, splitting time between group and individual reading tailored to specific skill needs,” said program co-director Murray. “In addition, tutors collaborate with the Title I teachers to ensure the program effectively supports students who require additional assistance.”
“We read a lot of nights. The program has been a phenomenal help to my family and helped Patience in ways she doesn’t even realize yet.”
Brett Laravie, parent
The church secured additional outside grants for the current year and are in the process of expanding its grant applications to a wider community.
“We are highlighting the program’s adaptability and broad impact. In addition, discussion has started on the feasibility of exporting this training material to other churches or interested parties,” Murray said.
“This church is well-prepared to make this program succeed. They know why their church is great,” said Darren Crotts, NC Rural Center’s Faith in Rural Communities program manager. “They know how vitally important it is for third-graders to be reading at a higher level.”
“They’ve been very accepting of everyone. It’s not a matter of religion. It’s more a matter of helping the children get the services that they need. It is a phenomenal program for the kids,” Brett Laravie said.
As for Patience, reading has opened new doors and inspirations in her life. When asked what she wants to be when she grows up, she answers, “I want to be a flying trapeze artist.”
The program has also been an answered miracle for Principal Tidd. For the first time, the school’s state test score rating has been raised from a C to a B.
“We appreciate all the support the Connect Church program has given,” a smiling Tidd said. “Our parents and community appreciate everything they do. In addition, our superintendent and school board are very thankful. We are where we are because of their support. We’re so very lucky.”