December 6, 2016
Ursuline College students have done such a good job tutoring children at Cuyahoga County Public Libraries their supervisor would love to hire a few of their classmates.
The students – majoring in nursing, fashion merchandising, studio art and art therapy – have impressed JoAnna Schofield, MLIS, the library system’s youth programming coordinator, with the high quality of their interaction with scores of children in library-based homework centers.
“We are so thankful for the partnership between Ursuline College and Cuyahoga County Public Library,” said Schofield. “Ursuline federal Work Study students have been instrumental in allowing us to provide after-school tutoring to the approximately 450 Homework Centers program participants at our Maple Heights, Southeast, and Warrensville Heights branches.
“Each Ursuline student who has served as a Homework Center tutor has demonstrated strong commitment not only to helping younger students with their subject comprehension, but to making a difference in their lives,” Schofield continued. “Ursuline students are doing more than just helping kids solve math problems. They are giving kids positive role models to look up to. We look forward to continuing and expanding this partnership in the future!”
Sister Christine De Vinne, OSU, Ph.D., president of the college, is particularly delighted with this good report. “As a former middle school teacher, I know how valuable it is for children to gain comprehension and confidence with the assistance of a patient, competent tutor. I am so pleased that our students are providing this assistance and I’m delighted to learn that they are serving as healthy role models and good ambassadors for Ursuline College in the process.”
The tutoring positions, coordinated by Kathryn Hill in Ursuline’s Financial Aid Office, qualify as part-time work assignments compensated in part by the federal government through the federal Work-Study program.
Kelly Flynn, a senior double majoring in art therapy and studio arts, tutors at the Southeast Branch in Bedford. Her goal after graduation is to join the Peace Corps. “This is a great opportunity to get my feet wet in the educational field, which is the largest branch of the Peace Corps. Through this program I am slowly learning important skills and am finding more and more that I like teaching kids.”
First-year transfer nursing major Alexandria Maxwell also tutors at the Southeast Branch. She said the experience has confirmed her idea of specializing in pediatrics after graduation. “What I like best about working with the children is their energy. Even after an eight-hour school day, they still come into the homework center excited and ready to learn. There are days when I'm exhausted, feeling like I don't want to tutor that day, but when I arrive I instantly feel rejuvenated.”
First-year fashion merchandising major Kevia Ware said, “The best thing about working with the children is being able to help prepare them for their future, knowing the struggles I had with schooling at their age.”
First-year nursing major Celina Jemison tutors at the Warrensville Heights Branch. “What I love best about working with the children is seeing their little faces light up when they learn something or they get things right. What was most surprising was that the first week I worked there the older and younger kids took a liking to me and most of them said it was because I am so easy to talk to and I actually listen to them.”
To learn more about the homework centers available at 10 Cuyahoga County Public Library branches, click here.
