America Reads-Mississippi Celebrates Successful Year

A national program impacting the way students are learning to read in the Magnolia State recently celebrated a successful year.  Established in 1998, America Reads-Mississippi (ARM) is an AmeriCorps program administered through the Academic Affairs Office of the Mississippi Institutions of Higher Learning. Beginning with 200 full-time AmeriCorps members, Mississippi State University (MSU) is one of only two partnering state universities partnering with the program. Dedicated to improving the reading skills of students, encouraging public awareness and support of literacy, and helping to increase the number of certified teachers in Mississippi, the program housed in the College of Education’s Center for Educational Partnerships hosted volunteers to fulfill the program’s mission throughout the year and celebrated with a wrap-up luncheon last week. Theresa Hall-Brown, regional coordinator for the university’s unit said, “About 60 percent of our members want to become teachers and help our school districts grow across the state.” With 18 school districts and 29 school partners, the districts partnering with ARMS recruit tutors who then receive training by the participating universities. Ronjanett Taylor, State Program Director, who was also in attendance of the celebratory luncheon said, "Members have worked extremely hard this year, and the tutoring our members provide is making a huge difference." Taylor added, "When our members utilize opportunities to get involved in their communities, it improves the condition of the whole state." ARM had members volunteer in many local schools including: Coffeeville Elementary, Fair Elementary, Goodman-Pickens Elementary, Holly Springs Elementary, North Pontotoc Elementary, Okolona Elementary, S.V. Marshall, and South Panola Elementary. Funded through the Corporation of National & Community Service, the America Reads Mississippi program is also overseen on a state level by Volunteer Mississippi.