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Vicki Galloway works with one of her students, Raelynn.
“Being able to read goes hand-in-hand with success in life.”
That statement was made by a local volunteer for the program, “Start Making a Reader Today (SMART).” For those who give their time to this important cause, the results are astonishing, and they will all tell you that it is one of the most important investments in a child’s future that they make as a volunteer.
The SMART program is celebrating a milestone this year, marking its 20th anniversary. There are currently more than 7,700 children in the program statewide, and nearly 235 sites across the state.
The heart and soul of the program are the dedicated volunteers who give their time to the young readers year after year. Educators value the SMART program for the unique service and role that the volunteers provide, and especially the one-on-one attention they can give to the students.
Bonnie Morris has been a SMART volunteer for three years. She and her husband were new to Central Oregon four years ago, and she was looking for a volunteer opportunity. She saw an ad in the paper asking for volunteers for SMART, and she thought that was something she would like to do.
“I love reading and I like sharing with the children,” said Morris. “They are so eager.”
Morris said that the children look forward to the one-on-one time with the volunteers.
“The child does not have to read,” commented Morris. “If he/she doesn’t want to read that day, we don’t read. We will talk about the book, or I will read and they will just sit there and listen and discuss the story. It’s so fun to watch their eyes glow when they are able to pronounce the words.”
Morris said that students get to take home books. They get to choose any book available. “You can’t beat the look in their eyes when we say, ‘It’s yours.”’
Morris said her favorite thing about working with the children is the eagerness of the children to want to read better, increase their skills, and enjoy books.
Kathy Knower is the coordinator for the local SMART program at Crooked River Elementary. She has been working in this capacity for 15 years. Knower lost the funding for her position several years ago, and she just continued to provide the same time as a volunteer to coordinate the program.
She said that there are three programs in the Crook County School District; one at Ochoco Elementary, one at Crooked River Elementary, and one that works with the “After the Bell” program — also at Crooked River Elementary. All three programs are always looking for more volunteers, although Knower said she has a very rich base of volunteers. There are currently 83 students in her program and 65 volunteers. Most of the helpers work with two students for one half-hour each setting.
“It’s not about teaching reading, but sharing a reading experience to enjoy reading, and helping them (students) become more confident readers,” said Knower.
She also added that the principal of Crooked River Elementary, Cheri Rasmussen, has been a tremendous support to the program.
“Cheri is a great principal and is very supportive of the program, as are the teachers.”
Vicki Galloway, a SMART volunteer at Crooked River Elementary, was an elementary teacher before retiring, and wanted to continue with the important work of helping kids read.
“That’s why I wanted to teach in the first place, is to teach kids to read. It’s a very important skill.”
Galloway also commented that Knower has been a great support and has offered a lot of continuity to the program.
“It makes it a lot easier to want to volunteer, because she is so good.”
She said that the kids look forward to coming the two days that they have with the volunteers. Galloway has seen a great deal of progress with the SMART readers during her time as a volunteer. In her career as a teacher, she had the privilege of working with volunteers who helped students with their reading skills, and she understands the need for such individual volunteers.
“It’s fun to keep reading with the kids, and seeing their progress,” said Galloway. “I volunteer when somebody is absent, so I get to see a lot more kids.”
Dick and Sue Hollenbeck have been volunteers for approximately 10 years. Sue was introduced to the SMART program when she was working at a high school in Portland.
“You could just see it in the kids’ eyes when the SMART volunteers showed up,” said Hollenbeck of their enthusiasm. When she and her husband moved to Prineville, she volunteered for SMART at Culver School District first, then later started helping in Prineville.
“It’s a very worthwhile program.”
Sue’s husband also volunteers at Crooked River Grade School, and he described the feeling that he had when starting the year with a child that was struggling and watching the awakening when they felt the pride in their accomplishment of being able to read.
“The program is not about teaching to read but that reading is fun and opens up horizons,” exclaimed Dick.
The Hollenbecks both agreed that all the volunteers are thrilled to be there to help with the SMART students, and they all bring their own individual talents to the table to share with their young readers. Dick added that it was important to the kids to know that “somebody out there cares.”
“It’s essential,” said Dick. “The need for volunteers is paramount. If we are going to succeed and have kids succeed, this is what has to happen.”
