Expanding fight against illiteracy

All 13 of the city district's elementary schools receive OhioReads grants.
By JoANNE VIVIANO
VINDICATOR EDUCATION WRITER
YOUNGSTOWN -- When Edelle Payne got stuck, she turned to the man sitting beside her.
The Bennett Elementary School first-grader pointed to the letters.
"We had that word before. Remember?" asked Zakir Baraka II.
Edelle and Baraka worked it out as the tutor patiently helped the youngster break they into its separate sounds.
Baraka was mentoring Edelle and her fellow first-grader Javaughtae Wilburnfor the first time Monday.
Along with Terence Gamble, he is one of the first Youngstown firefighters to volunteer in the tutor-mentor program at Bennett.
"I just want to help the kids out," said Gamble, as he held a multicolored stack of flash cards before first-grader Suadont & eacute; Wright.
"I'm not busy, so I thought I'd help them," said Baraka, who once worked as a substitute teacher at Eagle Heights Academy in Youngstown. "I know kids need help reading."
The firefighters are the newest volunteers in the school's OhioReads literacy program.
OhioReads is a statewide initiative that aims to bring volunteers into schools to serve as reading tutors for pupils in grades kindergarten through fourth. It is funded by the state.
All 13 of the city district's elementary schools receive OhioReads grants, as do several other schools across Mahoning, Columbiana and Trumbull counties. (To learn how to volunteer, call (888) OHIOREADS or visit www.ohioreads.org.)
Bennett, received a $10,000 grant for the program this year, a drop in the amount received last school year, said Principal Bruce Palmer. The money is used for materials and supplies.
Background
The firefighters learned about the tutoring program last week when they visited the school to discuss fire safety. When they introduced themselves to Palmer, he suggested they become mentors.
"Every kid wants to be a fireman, so I know they're going to look up to them," Palmer said. "These gentlemen are definitely mentors for our students ... inside our school, but also outside our school."
Other OhioReads volunteers at Bennett come from Ohio Edison and Cardinal Mooney High school.
"I like working with kids and I like to help out," said Patsy Daltorio of New Middletown, who said he and other Mooney seniors volunteer at various organizations as part of a Christian service class.
"All the places we go to, the little kids are so excited," added Gracie Beish, a Mooney senior from Boardman.
On Monday, the Mooney seniors tutored Bennett youngsters by playing Scrabble, using flash cards and reading books.
"It's different from being in a private school -- coming to a public school," said Angelo Martinez of Boardman. "Students in private schools are more fortunate. We're giving them the same chance as going to St. Luke or St. Charles."