For 19 years, Werlin Reading Teams has been providing tutors and mentors to 1st through 3rd grade struggling readers. So far, over 7,500 students’ lives have been changed by community volunteers who have committed 45-minutes a week during the school year to tutor/mentor a child.
Why does Werlin focus on reading?
- Students learn the mechanics of reading in grades 1-3
- Students must read for content by the 4th grade.
- For every eight students entering 4th grade NOT reading on grade level, only ONE STUDENT EVER WILL.
- Reading is the key to all learning – history, math, science
Various reasons children struggle to read:
- Difficult home life & poverty.
- Learning disabilities
- Non-English speaking
At Werlin, we don’t focus on the reason; we focus on the one-on-one tutoring that builds off what the teacher is teaching in the classroom.
Dr. James Comer said that “No significant learning occurs without a significant relationship.” The mentoring aspect of Werlin is equally as important as the tutoring. Wonderful relationships are developed between the students and the tutors. It makes a difference for these students that there is a consistent, caring adult in their lives. Our tutors also report that they look forward to their Werlin tutoring day each week!
There is A Staggering Need for Increased Literacy:
- 61% of families living below the poverty line do not have books at home for their children!
- According to “A Fair Start for all of America ’s Children” a June 2003 report by Hope Street Group, one out of every 10 children does not graduate from high school.
- A December 2003 report from the Washington State Superintendent of Public Instruction, estimated the graduation rate for the class of 2002 at about 66%.
- The same report states that students who struggle in the early grades, are more likely to drop out of school prior to graduating.
Our goal is to have 500 student/tutor matches in 10 Tacoma elementary schools during the 2007/2008 school year. This is about 25% of the of the 1st through 3rd grade children that are struggling to meet reading benchmark goals.
Thank you for being interested in Werlin Reading Teams. Can you give 45-minutes a week to make a difference in the life of a child?
A Brief History Of A Bright Future
Werlin Reading Team is a grassroots, non-profit, public-private partnership. Our award-winning program started back in 1988 with only 50 tutors in one Tacoma elementary school. Today, Werlin has become the longest running, most successful tutoring program in the United States. We now have hundreds of volunteer tutors helping students in ten Tacoma schools with more to come.
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Our Board of Directors 2007-08
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Waylin McCurley, Board President
Vice President HR & Development
Rainier Pacific Bank
David Seago, Board Vice President
Editorial Page Editor
The News Tribune
Steve Fox, Board Treasurer
Director, Capital Markets Research
Russell Investment Group
John W. Ladenburg, Jr., Past Board President
Ladenburg Kramer PLLC
Lori Ann Reeder
Dan & Pat Nelson Foundation
Richard Radford
CEO Cenorin
Judge Christine Quinn-Brintnall
State of Washington
Judge Court of Appeals
Jamie Batson,
Private Banker Vice President
Wells Fargo
Anita Roth
Elementary Literacy Facilitator
Tacoma Public Schools
Senator Debbie Regala
Washington State Senate
Greg Unruh
VP/Senior Relationship Manager
Wells Fargo
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Tracie Bryant
Key Private Banking, KeyBank
Michael Power
Asst Superientendent of Program & Learning
Tacoma Public Schools
Joshua Nolan
TrueBlue, Inc.
Barbara James
CEO/Executive Director, Werlin Reading
Mary Almonte
Control Officer, Russell Investments
Lynn Mawe
Greater Tacoma Community
Foundation
Bethany Gordon
CEO/President Gordon Financial Group
Colleen Anderson
Federal Way Public Schools
Emeritus Board Members 2007-08
Bob Krotz
Past Board President
Franciscan Foundation
Bruce F. Dammeier
Puyallup School Board
Steve Smith
Director of Community Relations
University of Washington – Tacoma
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Our Staff
Barbara James, CEO/Executive Director
Shelley Angelo, Lead Program Coordinator
Anne Baer, Grants Administrator
Ruth Karlinsey, Grants Administrator
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Our Program Site Coordinators
| Birney |
Ruth Karlinsey
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| Boze |
Jennifer Lackman
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| Brown's Point |
Jayme Kaniss
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| Geiger |
Brenda Adona
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| Jefferson |
Jayme Kaniss
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McCarver
McCarver |
Marty Magee
Shelley Angelo
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| McKinley |
Liz Savitz
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| NE Tacoma |
Jayme Kaniss
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| Pt. Defiance |
Laura Meade
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| Roosevelt |
Darlyne Reiter
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