As one of the first members of Experience Corps in Greater New Haven, Rose Mentone has found that this work has given her something meaningful to do, while making a difference in the lives of children. As a retired Italian, English, and journalism teacher at Wilbur Cross High School in New Haven, as well as an assistant principal at Hillhouse High School in New Haven, Experience Corps provides Rose with a way to continue to share her knowledge and promote the importance of education.
“It gives me a reason to wake up every day, and I find that the kids I meet enrich my life,” said Rose.
One example of just how valuable Experience Corps is to both its members and the students they work with is exemplified in this story:
For several weeks I worked with a student in the second grade who was having trouble with story-recall. I could see the increase of confidence that came when the student was repeatedly able to recall the sequence of events throughout a story. When it came time to take the next standard reading test, the student successfully passed for the first time all year. Thinking it might have been a fluke, the student was asked to take another test. Once again, the student displayed her improved skills and achieved a higher grade than before.
“It made my day,” said Rose. “I had been working with her, and so had other volunteers. We had seen improvement and were all hoping it came across in her tests as well. It was all the proof we needed to see the importance of the program.”
Experience Corps of Greater New Haven is a volunteer initiative that engages older Americans, ages 55+, and utilizes their wisdom and professional experience to tutor elementary school children, grades K-3, in the subjects of reading and writing. Tutors receive training and then begin working with students in the classroom, in small groups, and one-on-one. The program was brought to Greater New Haven by the United Way of Greater New Haven and the Agency on Aging of South Central Connecticut and launched in February 2007 at two schools in Hamden. An expansion to all eight Hamden elementary schools is planned for September 2007.
For several weeks, Rose worked with a student in the second grade who was having trouble with story-recall. Rose reminisced about seeing the increase of confidence that came when the student was repeatedly able to recall the sequence of events throughout a story. When it came time to take the next standard reading test, the student successfully passed for the first time all year. Thinking it might have been a fluke, the student was asked to take another test. Once again, the student displayed her improved skills and achieved a higher grade than before.
Why did you choose to join Experience Corps?
To give me something worthwhile to do in my retirement; to give something back to the community; to get myself back into education and working with children; to make a difference, hopefully in someone’s life.
How do you benefit from tutoring the children?
It gives me a reason to wake up every day and I find that the kids I meet daily enrich my life as well.
Do you have a specific story to share that demonstrates the impact you have made?
I worked several weeks with a child in second grade who was having problems with story recall. As her teacher recalled to Sheila Greenstein, she was recently tested and he said, “In fact, last week she passed (based on ability to retell key details of story, mostly in sequence) a standard reading test for the first time this year. I had Gina Nutcher (the school’s literacy specialist) give a comparable test, and she passed it as well. She is an example of the success of your program.”
(over phone)
“It made my day. I had been working with her, and so had other volunteers. We had seen improvement and were all hoping it came across in her tests as well. It was all the proof we needed to see the importance of the program.”
What is your favorite part of tutoring with Experience Corps?
All the hugs and greetings the kids give me.
What did you do in your professional life?
I was a former high school teacher and administrator.
Would you be interested in being contacted by a local televised news station or radio station?
Not really.
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