Centro Hispano, Schools of Hope to recruit campus tutors Thursday

The Centro Hispano tutoring program will have an informational booth in Library Mall from 11 a.m.-1 p.m. this Thursday for interested University of Wisconsin–Madison students.

There will also be tutor training and sign-up for the Schools of Hope tutoring program Thursday evening in the Memorial Union from 2:30 p.m.-5 p.m. The programs give students of all educational backgrounds the chance to tutor preschool to high school children.

“We’re working with the Schools of Hope partners to eliminate the racial achievement gap and improve the educational success all of students in our schools,” says Autumn Hensel, the AmeriCorps VISTA Leader for Schools of Hope. “The number one strategy used by this partnership is to place volunteer tutors in schools to provide one-on-one interaction with students.”

This Thursday, the booth will be focusing on Schools of Hope programming coordinated by Centro Hispano. Students who have Spanish language experience and/or are interested in working with Latino youth are encouraged to visit.

“Having UW students who speak another language is a definite plus as a volunteer,” Hensel says. “We also have needs for people who have knowledge of Hmong culture and speak Hmong, since that is becoming a need we must address in our schools.”

The tutoring training session will have one section for students interested in teaching middle school mathematics, and another for those interested in teaching reading skills to elementary age students. The Schools of Hope tutor training will take place in the Memorial Union and will be listed on the Today in the Union board.

Schools of Hope is a collaboration brought to the Madison community by the Urban League of Greater Madison, Centro Hispano of Dane County, and the Morgridge Center.

 “At-risk youths who work with a mentor are far more likely to succeed,” Hensel adds. “It may not seem like a lot when you’re working with a youth, but it’s something they will remember for the rest of their lives.”

Students interested in working with middle and high school students can download applications off the Morgridge center Web site. To work with preschool and elementary youth, see the RSVP of Dane County Web site.