Each year around 15,000 third-grade students fail the Minnesota Comprehensive Reading Test prompting one organization to call on St. Thomas students for help.

The Minnesota Reading Corps, a division of AmeriCorps, are looking to fill 1,100 tutor spots for the upcoming school year and Kate Caffrey, St. Thomas Center for Intercultural Learning & Community Engagement manager, said that programs often look to St. Thomas because of its community involvement.

“I think our students do a lot of service in the greater community through service learning courses, through tutor mentor programs, through literacy connections,” Caffrey said. “Given the size of the institution and the number of students out there, I think people become very familiar with St. Thomas quickly.”

In 2003, MRC began its initiative to help Minnesota children become successful readers by the end of third grade.

Eight years later, the organization has grown from 25 members in 2003 to around 787 members this year and are still looking to recruit over 1,000 people throughout the state for the 2012-2013 school year.

A St. Thomas focus

Recent St. Thomas graduate and MRC literacy tutor, Samantha Lane, believes that her education at St. Thomas gives her the skills she needs to succeed in her year-long service commitment.

“As a liberal arts college, we have the different theology and philosophy [classes] that contribute to being well-rounded students,” Lane said. “With all of…the tutor-mentor programs and all the different volunteering opportunities that St. Thomas offers and urges students to do, I think it’s definitely helpful in being an AmeriCorps member.”

Caroline Buechter, elementary literacy tutor, said many of MRC’s tutors are recent college graduates.

“It’s just a great, short commitment for people to get their foot in the door, either at a school or to just gain some of that professional experience before getting that real job,” Buechter said.

Commitment to the kids

MRC is looking to fill both full and part-time tutor positions in the surrounding community.

Each position requires an 11-month commitment, but many people continue with the program after their 11 months are completed. Reading tutors work with school-aged children ranging from pre-kindergarten to third grade. Math tutors work with the fourth through eighth-graders.

“Prior to third-grade, you are learning to read,” Buechter said. “After third grade, you are reading to learn; so we really want those reading skills solidified by third grade.”

All of the full-time tutors are required to work 1,720 hours, which is divided into eight-hour shifts, Monday through Friday.

Why it pays to get involved

MRC offers incentives for students that commit. AmeriCorps members receive a living allowance of around $500 every two weeks along with an education award of $5,550 after completing the 1,720 hours of service.

Buechter said that she has seen tremendous growth in her students since she started with the program and finds the experience rewarding.

“Last year I had a first-grade student who wasn’t very confident in his reading and definitely was not up to grade-level in first grade,” Buechter said. “I worked with him 20 minutes a day, every day, and I just gave him that consistent praise. Two months later, I was able to exit him out of the program.”

Lane believes volunteering is full of opportunities and encourages all students to get out into the community and get involved.

“There is so much to learn by volunteering…there’s so many people that need assistance,” Lane said. “Challenge yourself as a student. Even though your schedule is so hectic already, find a time or two to volunteer in different organizations. You never know who you might meet that may lead to future jobs.”

Students who are interested in information about tutoring positions can learn more at www. joinreadingcorps.org or www.joinmathcorps.org

Olivia Cronin can be reached at cron2722@stthomas.edu.