December 30, 1999
It's not like Eddeille Boado and Deborah Spillane don't have anything to do. Both are fulltime students at MiraCosta College. And Spillane has two daughters. But as participants in MiraCosta's new AmeriCorps/Reader Leaders Project, they each made the commitment to spend 450 hours tutoring kids in reading at local elementary schools. And as the first students to complete those hours, they were honored in a special graduation ceremony Dec. 17, at MiraCosta's Oceanside campus.
"Eddeille and Deborah have both also participated in National Youth Service Day, Make-a-Difference Day, and other group service projects including a book drive and the Relay for Life," says Aiden Ely, AmeriCorps/Reader Leaders coordinator. "They are exemplary role models for our students and community members."
Funded by the Corporation for National Service in Washington, D.C., AmeriCorps/Reader Leaders is open to students at 23 colleges statewide. Area colleges include MiraCosta, Grossmont, and Southwestern.
Initially, MiraCosta staff launched the project to augment the college's CalWORKs program, designed to prepare welfare recipients for the work world. But since it began this year, the project has expanded to serve federal work-study students and virtually any dedicated student interested in this type of learning experience. Students who complete the 450 hours receive an educational award of $1,181, which can be used to pay for future higher education costs -- or repay student loans.
"The money lured me in but the tutoring hooked me," says Boado, 19. "You build this relationship with the kids... And it's so amazing to see their improvement."
During the two semesters she has been serving as a tutor, Boado has maintained a straight-A average while making time to spend two to four hours each week day at either Ivey Ranch Elementary School or Casita Elementary School. She enjoyed it so much she re-enrolled in Reader Leaders — for 900 hours. And she hopes to continue volunteering, even after she transfers to SDSU to study information systems.
"This keeps me grounded," says Boado. "I won't be one of those business stereotypes, a workaholic."
A child development student, Spillane, 43, says the Reader Leaders tutoring has complemented her course work, built her self-esteem, and taught her to be a more patient and understanding parent.
"I just love it. It's the best thing I've ever done in my life besides having my children," says Spillane. "When I go [to Casita Elementary School], the kids yell across the playground, `Debbie!' and come and hug me. We have fun. And it's great when they get up to their reading level and you know that they're learning."
During the weeks when Spillane's 12-year-old daughter Jillian was "off-track" from Washington Middle School, she came along with her mother to Casita and helped out, if she could.
"She's learning volunteering from me, so maybe one day, she'll become an AmeriCorps member," says Spillane. "I hope so."
Meanwhile, Spillane has signed on for another 450 hours of tutoring.
To be eligible for AmeriCorps/Reader Leaders, students must be 18 or older and legally able to work in the United States. They must receive tuberculosis test clearance. They must also be fingerprinted and received background-check clearance. For more information on AmeriCorps/Reader Leaders, call Ely at (760) 757-2121, ext. 6359.
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