Every year, new groups of students enter elementary schools in Utah ready to learn, but not all of them are truly prepared. For a number of reasons, some students have yet to learn reading or math skills, which presents a challenge for both them and their teachers. How can educators in already overloaded classrooms cater to students individually?

At Hillsdale Elementary in West Valley, an answer has come thanks to the generosity of one local business. The Ivory Bright Lights Academy, sponsored by the Clark and Christine Ivory Foundation, has created a program where volunteers serve weekly working with students on reading and math skills. Students are taught and monitored for their progress, and once they reach achievement levels, the academy holds a graduation ceremony for them. That’s what happened on March 21 at the school.

“I come to Jennie Bickmore’s class and I help the kids read or with their numbers, then we read a story together at the end of the day,” said Krista Turpin, who works for Ivory Homes and donates her time to the program. She said the program started at Hillsdale last year, working with kindergarten, first- and second-grade students. “When my kids were young, I would go in and volunteer in their classrooms, and I absolutely loved it. So when this opportunity came up I just jumped at the chance.”

Christine Ivory said the foundation was approached by Claudia Sipple, a first-grade teacher at Hillsdale.

“Her husband is one of our superintendents at Ivory,” Christine Ivory said. “She told us about her classroom and we decided to come out and see. So we started tutoring and helping these teachers. Once you see the difficulties confronting these teachers—they need help and concern and support.” 

She said volunteers from Ivory have helped in the classroom, as well as at field days where students have visited places like Red Butte Gardens, Hogle Zoo and the Loveland Aquarium. But that one-on-one time with the students is the most valuable.

“Reading to children—it’s a wonderful thing for a parent because it’s such a quiet, good time with your child,” she said. “What we love about this is the parent component—that they’re here, that they’re taking books home with their children, and they’re learning reading skills that are so important.”

“It’s great working with the kids and watching them progress,” Turpin said. “Even just coming in and having the kids be so excited to see you. They run up and give you a hug—they remember you and they know that you care about them. I think it’d be beneficial to every school to have that opportunity.”

Ivory agrees.

“It’s been good to be here for the last two years, because we can see more of the needs. We understand it better, and what would really help. What would really be great is if every business would adopt a school.” λ