2004 NRTA With Our Youth! Award Recipients
The NRTA With Our Youth! program is a volunteer service initiative implemented by retired educators' associations and open to 50+ adults nationwide. Volunteers work with children and youth to provide meaningful educational and life-skills support. The NRTA With Our Youth! program grew out of a commitment NRTA made during the 1997 Colin Powell-led President's Summit for America's Future to volunteer and work with youth. Nationally, more than 45 million service hours in over 2,000 communities have been provided by retired educators reaching well over 1.5 million youth. The fifth annual With Our Youth! awards were presented in Washington, DC on August 15, 2004 during NRTA's national community service chair and leadership conference. Award recipients included:
2004 NRTA With Our Youth! Excellence Award
STATE
Florida State Retired Educators Association
The state community service chair for the Florida Retired
Educators Association (FREA), Tom Smith, attended NRTA's
first State Community Service Conference in San Antonio, Texas in
the fall of 2001. He was impressed with what he heard about the
NRTA With Our Youth! program.
Tom returned home from the conference with a new goal in mind. He met with FREA leaders to discuss his dream to mobilize FREA members around a commitment to Florida youth. The State of Florida had adopted a literacy program and the association decided that it was a perfect match.
Spearheaded by FREA membership core leaders, the association launched their program by distributing With Our Youth! materials and information throughout the state. Local associations set goals. Activities were suggested for volunteers. And an FREA state literacy chair was appointed to work hand-in-hand with the state community service chair.
Covering 58 counties, Florida's With Our Youth! program included literacy and community service projects, and thirty-three percent had special total unit projects. One of the states that chose to track 2004 volunteer time, FREA members logged 1,007,368 hours! And Florida's retired educators are making a difference: for the first time, more than half of the students who took the Florida Comprehensive Assessment Test are reading at or above grade level.
LOCAL
Hastings Area Retired Teachers Association
Hastings, Nebraska
"Read, Read, Read, Everybody Needs to Read" is the
title of the award-winning project spearheaded by the Hastings
Area Retired Teachers Association. At the request of and in
cooperation with area teachers and principals, the Hastings Area
Retired Teachers Association set up a program that involved over
65 volunteers. This year, these youth and adult volunteers
reached over 4,400 pre-school and elementary students in the city
and outlining areas, covering an area over one hundred miles in
diameter. More than 10,000 total hours were spent reading,
reading, reading!
The project began by serving pre-schools, libraries, and public schools in rural, under-served areas. It then expanded to community centers and church after-school programs. Soon, some classes began visiting rest homes and assisted living facilities to entertain residents through choral readings, plays, and by just "plain" one-on-one reading activities.
Every Thursday morning, one volunteer reads Curious George books and old fairy tales to 80 enthralled kindergartens who ask, "Mrs. Christianson, where do you get such good stories?!" And each week at Hawthorne School when another volunteer opens the door to Room 103, she is greeted by the sounds of first graders' applause and cheering. One just might be tempted to say that job satisfaction just doesn't get any better than that!
Southwest Retired Teachers Association/ Slope Area Retired
Teachers Association
North Dakota
Population is sparse. The distance between population centers is
great. The economy is based on agriculture which is dependent
upon the forces of nature. Despite conditions that might
otherwise appear daunting, two North Dakota local retired
educator associations joined together to make a significant
impact in the lives of youth in Southwest and Slope Area regions.
Recognizing the critical needs of this area's young people, retired educators knew that they could not do it alone -- they involved the entire community, including senior citizens, students, and active as well as retired teachers. Together, these volunteers not only enhanced the academic development of youth, but also strived to address their spiritual development and basic needs.
In cold North Dakota winters, quilts are a necessity. Thanks to these two units and their community partners, homemade quilts were distributed to disabled youngsters, healthcare center and shelter babies, correction center and boys' home youth, and the 2004 high school graduates. Volunteers also worked to preserve the local heritage and taught the survival skills that are so important to living in North Dakota. These dedicated workers donated myriad handmade items to raise money for youth programs and worked in a variety of ways in local schools, churches, youth clubs, libraries and museums. And when one association lacked funds for student scholarships, both associations worked together to raise money through a successful retired teachers association convention.
Southwestern North Dakota is an area that is economically depressed, yet it is also an area that is richly endowed with volunteers who willingly do whatever is necessary to ensure a brighter future for its youth.
INDIVIDUAL
Germaine Kresser Dietsch
Woody Creek, Colorado
Germaine Kresser Dietsch is the founder of Spellbinders, a
national nonprofit volunteer storytelling program.
Spellbinders' unique intergenerational program trains
volunteers, (primarily seniors, many of whom are retired
teachers), to tell stories to children in schools and other
community facilities.
Germaine Kresser Dietsch is the founder of Spellbinders, a national nonprofit volunteer storytelling program. Spellbinders' unique intergenerational program trains volunteers, (primarily seniors, many of whom are retired teachers), to tell stories to children in schools and other community facilities.
Don Slater
Manhattan Area REA, Manhattan, Kansas
Don Slater knows Manhattan, Kansas. He's lived there all his
life. And Don knows about Manhattan, Kansas
children…at-risk students… their needs… and
what motivates them to learn. Don serves as the assistant
director for the Hand to Hand program, an after-school,
all-volunteer tutoring and homework assistance center for
children grades K through 12. Open four evenings a week, as well
as during the month of July for reading and math tutoring, Hand
to Hand addresses the academic needs of children through
individual contact with a caring adult in a safe and nurturing
environment.
Don works tirelessly to build bridges in the community…and all those bridges lead to support for the tutoring program. Don is well-known and trusted in his community. And the community trusts and supports the work of Hand to Hand, offering many donations that are used for motivational prizes to keep struggling students focused. Nearly all of the participating children have shown marked academic improvement.
Through Don's work with Kansas State University, each semester, 150 university tutors offer children one-on-one engagement with college role models. And the university volunteers have a chance to enjoy working in a multi-cultural setting.
Don's devoted service to the program and his reliable good cheer make him irreplaceable. And what does Don receive in return? He tells us that this volunteer work has given him the best years of his life!
Larry Wagner
Klamath Falls REA, Klamath Falls, Oregon
In a popular song for children, "the wheels of the bus go
round and round and the people in the bus go up and down."
In Klamath Falls, Oregon, every Friday for the past ten years,
the wheels of the bus have stopped at the YMCA and the people on
the bus have been welcomed by Larry Wagner. The children on this
bus have learning disabilities, and Larry does pool activities to
help K-6th graders develop coordination and water safety skills.
Just overcoming the fear of water is a major achievement! This
program encourages self-confidence, independence, and a sense of
joy, helping special children develop into productive, happy
adults.
Not everyone is willing or able to work with children with special needs. Larry's commitment to physical and emotional development is especially important to these children, their families and the community. Every Friday…ten years…many buses…many children…one Larry…thank you, Larry …for your outstanding commitment to the youth of Klamath Falls!
2004 NRTA With Our Youth! Exceptional Merit Award
Georgia Retired Educators Association
A highly unusual situation occurred this year during the NRTA
volunteer award selection process. For the first time, one state
demonstrated exceptional volunteer service in all three areas:
State, Local and Individual. Throughout Georgia, in myriad ways,
retired educator volunteers are committed to enriching the lives
of young people.
STATE
Georgia Retired Educators Association
Modeled after the Kentucky Retired Teachers Association's
successful grandparent essay project, for the past two years,
AARP Georgia and the Georgia Retired Educators Association (GREA)
have sponsored an essay writing contest for fifth graders across
the state.
During the 2003-2004 school year, twenty-eight REA units, fifty four schools, and 2,347 students participated in the contest. Each year the topic changes; this year's emphasis was on an experience with a grandparent or with someone who has been a grandparent model. The teachers gave the assignment and collected the papers, and the local REA units read the entries and chose the winners. Through the support of the AARP Georgia office, all students received a Certificate of Participation and winning students received gift certificates and small gifts.
The grandparent essay project received extensive, state-wide media coverage. AARP Georgia and GREA plan to continue this project throughout the coming years.
LOCAL
Cobb-Marietta Retired Educators Association
Cobb-Marietta Counties, Georgia
Cobb-Marietta Retired Educators Association has 258 members and
over half dedicate a portion of their leisure time to
Georgia's youth. These retired educators served 4,211 hours
last year working throughout their counties to influence and
change existing circumstances for the better. Volunteers worked
with medically fragile children, donated school supplies,
volunteered in the schools and libraries, gave museum tours,
mentored children with English as a second language and helped to
keep communications open between schools and families. These busy
retired teachers directed the high school chorus, taught high
school leadership skills, sponsored grandparent essay contests,
and worked with a variety of programs in area churches.
When your days are filled with helping a family from Kosovo, or hemming high school band uniforms, or going back to camp (this time to teach music and crafts!) or working to get college scholarships for children who could not otherwise attend, life is certainly as our founder, Dr. Andrus, put it, "not slipping by!" An 88 year-old Cobb-Marietta retired educator who has tutored in an elementary school for the past seven years said, "I'm not here to chitchat. I never have time for conversation except when there are kids. The day goes by so quickly, I really don't have time. I can get bored real quick. But I come alive when I'm here with the kids."
One young woman may well speak for the estimated 1,055 county youth served by Cobb Marietta Retired Educators when in a thank you letter she wrote, "You will always be remembered by your former students for the knowledge and life you gave them. They may not always remember what you said, but they will never forget how you made them feel."
Gwinnett County Retired Educators
Gwinnett County, Georgia
We are all intimately acquainted with the phrase, "If you
want something done, ask a busy person." In Gwinnett County,
perhaps this statement should be, "Ask a busy retired
educators association!" Gwinnett County retired educators
are known for their work in the community. Throughout the year,
they can be found in the schools -- tutoring, mentoring, reading
and telling stories, working with art and music, giving patriotic
presentations, serving as music accompanists, exploring aviation,
acting as chaperones, helping with book fairs and in the library,
judging contests, doing vision and hearing screening, providing
scholarships, and conducting mock job interviews. Volunteers also
work in churches, the library, the local hospital, the county
children's shelter and with Ronald McDonald House. The scope
of Gwinnett County's retired educators' involvement is
extraordinary!
With such an industrious association track record, it seems only fitting that when the Gwinnett County Solicitor's Office was looking for volunteers to work with the nationally recognized program, Hands Are Not For Hitting, the Office would call on the retired educators association for help. Hands Are Not For Hitting is an interactive puppet show for children aged 6-9 years. Designed to help teach non-violent conflict resolution skills, last year alone, this program helped more than 8,000 children recognize that they do not have to accept domestic violence and bullying as a way of life and that there people who can help. Gwinnett County volunteers receive countless thank you letters for their efforts throughout the County.
Washington County Retired Educators Association
Washington County, Georgia
"Please come to see me Friday since you can't come on
Wednesday!" cried a teary-eyed little boy who was being
mentored in all his subjects. "Never in our wildest dreams
would we have believed the cries for help would be so devastating
and our work so strongly appreciated," writes a volunteer
from the Washington County Retired Educators Association.
"How can one turn his back on a youth who is begging for
help?" the writer continues. "This cry for help can be
heard throughout the country, if we would only listen."
The youth in Washington County are very fortunate because retired educators did listen. They listened to the needs of over 2,000 county youth… fatherless children hungry for a positive male role model; little Head Starters who needed to learn about dental care and good nutrition; students who needed mentors, counseling, after-school supervision and homework help; high school students who needed coaches and teens who wanted to give back to the community through the American Heart Walk.
To answer those cries for help, volunteers worked with school staff, church members, the staff at the Negro Business and Professional Women's Club Head Start, the Colgate dental van staff, the Air Force Junior ROTC, the Optimist International Club and the Future Business Leaders of America.
The volunteers' efforts resonated throughout the county. Young children exhibited better health care, school test scores soared and attendance improved. Students won essay contests and teens participated in multiple community service projects.
If you want to see an area that has been changed by the generous hearts of retired educators, the next time you drive through Georgia, be sure to visit Washington County. You may just want to "sit a spell"…or you may just want to stay for good!
INDIVIDUAL
Ida Florine Tarver Jones
Ida Florine Tarver Jones is from the Troup Retired Educators
Association. A member of the County Board of Education described
Ida in her letter of November, 2003 when she wrote, "She
gives of her time and talents freely; she arrives with a smile on
her face and she's caring and kind to the children. We need
more volunteers like Ida Jones."
But is there another volunteer like Ida Jones? Mrs. Jones:
- Serves on the Board of Directors for the La Grange Symphony Orchestra and the LaGrange International Friendship Exchange. (She even hosted 65 South Ulster band youth and chaperones!)
- Chairs the Optimist Club Annual Essay Contest.
- Serves on the Homeless Council for North Georgia United Methodist Church.
- Works with the Georgia Sheriffs' Youth Home and the LaGrange Boys and Girls Club.
- Helped to organize a Big Brother/Big Sister group in LaGrange.
A featured speaker for Black History Month, Mrs. Jones also participates in the Troup Read program, visiting schools to tell stories and read, often in costume with accompanying exhibits. Sometimes, she reads to six classes a day! Ida Jones is a "one-of-a-kind" volunteer!
Additional Information
- Submit a nomination for the 2008 With Our Youth! Awards.
- Become a With Our Youth! volunteer. Contact the NRTA national office at 202-434-2380 to receive the free With Our Youth! information kit or email gruiz@aarp.org.
- Additional questions about the winners? Please email rvillarreal@aarp.org or call 202-434-2380.
- Read about past NRTA With Our Youth! Award recipients: 2007, 2006 and 2005.
