The Seven-Year Schools of Hope Tutor Team

Live United Spotlight 

Barb Klug, Barrie Kuzia and Martha Viney, Schools of Hope tutors from Modine Manufacturing

August 23, 2019

Barb Klug, Barrie Kuzia and Martha Viney are among Schools of Hope’s most loyal tutors. This team of tutors from Modine has volunteered at North Park Elementary School every semester for the last seven years. Regular attendees of United Way’s various events, this team embodies what it means to LIVE UNITED.

You’ve been Schools of Hope tutors for seven years so far. What about this program keeps you coming back every year?

Barb: SOH is such a unique program that emphasizes the importance of reading at an early age. As tutors, we are able to provide extra help to kids in school that they may not be getting at home.   

Barrie: I feel tutoring is a great way to make a difference in a child’s life. Not only is reading achievement important, but making a personal connection with the child is rewarding. The one-on-one time spent bonding with each child is so valuable, and we see that the kids are starving for positive attention.

Martha: It is always a pleasure to talk with the kids and see how they progress throughout the school year. 

Being a tutor can be a really rewarding process, as I’m sure you know. The data that shows this program makes an impact on our students; can you share any moments when you consciously noticed the difference you were making?

Barb: You are really able to see firsthand the difference we are making from where the kids start at the beginning of the year to the end. The confidence they build is truly amazing!

Barrie: When the light bulb goes off and suddenly our students are reading with expression, understanding and fluency—which almost always happens by the end of the school year—is so exciting and rewarding!

Martha: I wouldn’t say there is any one moment that sticks out in my mind.  It is usually more of a gradual progression during the year where you can notice that the students are improving because of the extra time they are spending reading to you.

What are some of the ways that volunteering for Schools of Hope has affected you over the years?

Barb: Volunteering for SOH has affected me by knowing I’ve made a difference in a child’s life, especially those less fortunate. I love seeing their smiles when they receive a bag of books at the end of the year and knowing they’ve earned it. It’s such a rewarding experience!

Barrie: This program has made me very aware of how, with practice and perseverance, a child can progress in their reading skills. We all know that in life, you need to be able to read in order to learn.

Martha: Volunteering for Schools of Hope has educated me on how United Way impacts the community and that by spending just an hour a week, you can make a difference. It is a great program to help children develop their reading skills in a fun way.