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A Brief History
Reading Power was formed in 2003 by Mary Jane N. Hender, Ed. D., a literacy specialist, and Rev. Gordon Butcher, D. Min., a Presbyterian minister and literacy activist. Since then more than 160 dedicated tutors have helped over 900 children, many for more than one year.
From the beginning the program's cornerstone has been early intervention--helping to accelerate children's literacy learning early before they have a chance to fail. However, we found that the need for tutoring was also great among older children.
Therefore, in 2003, we began literacy support through grade 3 at A.J. Katzenmeier School.
In 2005 we hired four professional tutors to work with children in grades 1-3 at Greenbay School in North Chicago.
In 2006 we added Yeager School and tutor kindergartners there. Twenty-three new tutors joined us in 2006 so South School was added where we tutor first graders four days per week.
2009 saw the addition of a fifth school, Forrestal Elementary School.
Dr. Hender, our former Executive Director, oversaw the training, developed our one to one tutoring programs and supervised their implementation. She has trained our many volunteers who have committed to tutoring children one half day per week. Initial training occurs over two days and is ongoing with half hour sessions before each tutoring lesson.
In January 2009 Dr. Hender retired and Susan Pierce succeeded her as Executive Director. Our long term goal is to provide tutoring to all seven of North Chicago's elementary schools.
"Imagine, being able to positively influence the learning trajectory of children with great life challenges at the earliest stages of school. In Reading Power, we support and accelerate the literacy learning of those most at risk in the early grades."
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