Stripling Elementary School in Norcross
By Howard Hoffman
BERKELEY LAKE, Ga. | “People often commend me for my dedication to these students; however, if the truth were known, the program, the personal interaction with the children, the robust smiles received, fuel and fill ME,” says Leslie Paulsen about the Everybody Wins program at Stripling Elementary in Norcross. She lives in Norcross and is a senior vice president for a Norcross commercial insurance company.
Hoffman
For ten years she’s been there every Thursday (during school year) for her 30 minute individual session. Sometimes reading to two students. Pre-Covid, she is also on hand when the program includes Tuesdays.
Everybody Wins is more than hyperbole.
Patricia McCants, program manager directing operations of Everybody Wins at eight schools in Atlanta, says “The program is designed and proven to increase literacy skills in elementary students in low-income areas.” There are 2,675 students and 288 volunteers working in the program. Stripling is the lone school participating in Everybody Wins in Gwinnett.
Jeanna Bierenfeld, program coordinator for Stripling School for 13 years, adds: “It teaches students to love reading. It expands their mind and knowledge of the world. It encourages struggling. Covid paused the program, as volunteer’s lifestyles and work dynamics changed and as a result we’ve witnessed a dramatic decrease in our mentors.”
Volunteers read only on Thursdays to a student (sometimes two) from a book selected by the student from the school library. The sessions take place during lunch (30 minutes), which the students bring from the cafeteria to the volunteer in the school library.
Ms. McCants, who started with the Everybody Wins in 2019, says: “Of course, we are only limited by the number of volunteers we have in spreading this program. There are numerous studies and statistics that bear out the success of this program. Plus significant metrics show increases in vocabulary, zeal to read books, etc. There is a host of statistics and information concerning the value of getting young people reading.”
She adds: “We hope the student remains at a Power Lunch program school and we can continue to work with them throughout elementary school,” who adds that she sees the impact the program has on students—academically and socially.”
Ms. Paulsen has devoted much of her life to active philanthropy work by pledging her time, talent, and financial resources—admitting that the “in-person volunteer opportunities” are by far the most rewarding. She added, “Everybody Wins Atlanta is a proven program dedicated to enriched reading, confidence enhancement and most of all a “win-win” for the mentee AND the mentor.
- For more information about this program, go to Everyonewinsatlanta.org.
- Have a comment? Send to: elliott@brack.net
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