Schools of Hope fulfilling for education major

Education major Shannon Blood said volunteering for Schools of Hope helped solidify her love of teaching.  

“It made me passionate about wanting to be a teacher,” she said. “These children need our help.”

Blood volunteered at Dickinson Elementary School through Schools of Hope, which pairs trained volunteers with elementary students to work on the students’ reading and vocabulary skills.

Schools of Hope, a Heart of West Michigan United Way program, has a mission to raise literacy rates among children and families.

“We read with the students, work on vocabulary and play games,” Blood said. “It has structure to it but we’re allowed to teach in our own way.”

After graduation, Blood hopes to teach at an elementary school and said working with children through Schools of Hope has had a big impact on that.

“The two students I had were awesome,” she said. “They were so eager to read and excited to have someone to look up to. That’s why I want to be a teacher.”

Along with volunteering, Blood also coordinated the training of other Grand Valley students who wanted to participate in the program.

She said working with Schools of Hope has opened her eyes to how these types of programs need help from college and high school students.

Faculty and staff members are also encouraged to volunteer. Schools of Hope accepts new tutors throughout the year. Contact Sue Sloop, Work Life consultant, at [email protected] for details.