Reading ASSIST Institute - Unlocking the written word... one sound at a time

“Shocked!” That is how Dolores Kern, past first grade teacher and now RA volunteer tutor at Heritage Elementary School, describes her reaction to being awarded RAI’s top honor, the Betty Kane Award, for outstanding volunteerism.

“It is quite an honor when you think of all the tutors who work with RAI,” explained Kern. “I am still floating on a cloud!”

Kern received the Betty Kane award at RAI’s annual Appreciation Luncheon at the Waterfall Banquet and Conference Center in April. The Betty Kane award is given each year to an RAI volunteer who exemplifies the spirit of Betty Kane, an early volunteer with RAI and member and treasurer of RAI’s first Board of Directors. While the award’s namesake passed away in October, her daughters, Kathy Irwin and Ellen Kane presented the award in their mother’s memory at the luncheon.

Kern joined the Reading ASSIST Volunteer Tutor Program as a tutor less than three months after retiring from a career of teaching elementary school-a record, according to Volunteer Program Manger, Sue McGrath. Kern says it made sense for her to volunteer with RAI right after leaving the classroom. “As a teacher, I was always the first one in the principal’s office to recommend a student be tutored by RAI. The program works. “

Dolores is especially fond of working with children in small groups, which she finds allows her to reach out to more children. “Groups cause positive competition”, she says. “Kids interact and learn from each other.”

The best part for Kern is that kids love to come to tutoring. One boy announced upon his arrival to his tutoring session, “Now I can have a good time!” Kern is uplifted by the increase in self confidence she sees in her students as they improve their skills, and the words, “Hey, I can read” are music to her ears.