Schools of Hope

Hi there! My name is Tracy Lee Taylor, Coordinator of the Michigan’s AmeriCorps Schools of Hope Family Literacy program. Our program is centered on the hope of improving the lives of parents and children in Grand Rapids Public Schools through literacy. The program is a collaboration between The Heart of West Michigan United Way, the Grand Rapids Public School (GRPS) system, and the Literacy Center of West Michigan.

Since statistics have shown children in GRPS have significantly lower scores on standardized tests than children in outlying areas, Schools of Hope was founded on the belief that improving the literacy levels of both students and their parents is the best way to realize hope for a better life. Schools of Hope is divided into two distinct components; in-school tutoring for the children and English as a Second Language classes for non-English speaking parents.

Some of the greatest success stories of the Family Literacy program are shared by our amazing AmeriCorps members who serve as classroom teachers:

Every month we sponsor a Family Literacy Night at each of our partner schools within the city of Grand Rapids. The program, designed to bring families together in support of promoting the importance of literacy in homes where English is not the primary language; offers a meal, a lesson, and, most importantly, a chance to share experiences. At our last Family Night we wanted to give the children of our adult students a chance to express what this class has meant to them. One little girl was very anxious to share with us. She stood up, grinning from ear to ear, and said, “I am so excited my mom is learning to speak English. Now she can help me with my school work and I can help her learn!” Her excitement and enthusiasm really showed us the impact that offering English as a Second Language classes through AmeriCorps Schools of Hope program can have on the entire family!

-- Amanda Cook, Sibley Elementary School

Early on in the second semester, our class decided it would be fun to go on a field trip. We also decided it would be fun to see a movie. So, we found a movie that would work during our class period, the latest Jackie Chan movie, and I came up with the rules. The students could only speak English during our outing, they would have to order their own tickets, and in return, I would cover the costs. We all had a fantastic time. Probably the most exciting part, for me, was watching my students while they watched the movie. While many of them probably wouldn't have understood hardly any of it at the start of the year, I could tell by their laughter at certain parts that they understood a great deal of the movie. That was encouraging, and a lot of fun!

--Dan Hooley, Congress Elementary School

One of my students told me last week she was speaking with her DHS case worker on the phone and her supervisor on the other line commented on how good her English was. The supervisor told my student she could understand everything she was saying. What a great improvement!

Another success story involved one of my students at her place of work. Months ago her boss told her she really needed to speak more English if she wanted to keep her job. A few weeks ago she told me her boss has been so impressed with her English skills he might even give her a raise. She felt proud to tell me these two stories! It’s so good to hear students are applying what they’re learning to better their lives outside of the classroom! That’s what it’s all about!

--Kate Maitland, Sibley Elementary School

To find out more about Michigan’s AmeriCorps Schools of Hope, contact Program Director Tom Branigan at (616) 459-5151 or visit www.literacycenterwm.org.