12244: Students in tutoring program recognized (fwd)

[Bob Corbett <corbetre@webster.edu>]

From: leonie hermantin <lhermantin@hotmail.com>

Posted on Sun, Jun. 02, 2002

MIAMI
Students in tutoring program recognized
BY TIFFANI KNOWLES
tknowles@herald.com

WITH HONORS

DONNA E. NATALE PLANAS/HERALD STAFF

Seven Miami Edison students were feted at Don Shula's Golf Club in Miami
Lakes for at least two years of service in the tutoring program through the
Miami Edison High School Linkage Foundation. From left, Dolly Dorival,
Adline Daceus, Edline Jean, Stephanas Exantus, Michelle Morin, John Paret
and Mercy Pericles.

Three days a week, Mercy Pericles rushes through the doors of Miami Edison
High School, walks down the street to the middle school of the same name and
tutors students .

Many of Mercy's students were afraid to read out loud. So this year,
Pericles, 17, formulated a solution on how to help them.

''At the end of every session, one of them will read to the group and tell
us in his or her own words what they've read about,'' she said.

This 15-minute reading session is part of an hourlong tutoring program,
headed by Pericles.

She and about 30 tutors from the high school are paid more than minimum wage
through the Miami Edison Linkage Foundation, funded by Edison alumni and the
Peacock Foundation, to assist English for Speakers of Other Languages
students at Miami Edison Middle in English, math and science.

For their dedication of at least two years, seven of the tutors were honored
at Don Shula's Golf Club Wednesday at an end-of-the-year luncheon.

''These students have done a tremendous job working with at-risk youth,''
Adele Graham, co-chairwoman of the Miami Edison Linkage Foundation, said at
the luncheon.

Graham gave each tutor a copy of The Little Book of Coaching, co-authored by
Don Shula and an autographed poster of the famed former Miami Dolphins
coach.

John Paret, 19, received a two-year scholarship to Miami-Dade Community
College. The scholarship was made possible through a fund created in 1999 at
the Miami-Dade Community College Foundation to underwrite the award in the
student-to-student tutoring program.

Paret, originally from Haiti, migrated with his family to the United States
when he was in kindergarten.

''I can relate a lot to these kids because I had the same language
barrier,'' said Paret, who will major in prelaw at MDCC. ``Although it was
much easier for me because I was smaller, I have a lot of patience with
these students.''

Although most of the tutors are fluent in Creole, it was not a requirement
to become a tutor.

'Sometimes, it's even better when the tutor speaks only English, because it
forces the `tutee' to speak it as well,'' Mercy said.

The only requirements are a 3.0 grade-point average and a 3.0 average in the
subject one tutors, as well as leadership ability and regular attendance.

If tutors miss more than one day in a week, they are replaced.

''There is definitely not a shortage of tutors,'' said Martha Anne Collins,
administrative coordinator of the tutoring program. ``Everyone wants to be a
part of this program.''

The coordinator of the tutoring program at the middle school is Alma Jones,
a physical eduction, math and science teacher.

''The children in the program are beginning to read better and, most
importantly, they are understanding what they're reading,'' Jones said. ``We
have seen such positive results in math and reading.''

Miami Edison Middle, in which 80 percent of the students are of Haitian
descent, has seen a 77-point increase in FCAT scores since last year, school
officials said.

''Some of them have just come to this country a few months ago,'' Pericles
said. ``My tutors have used dictionaries to introduce new words to them.''

The tutoring program has not only helped the middle schoolers but has also
benefited the tutors.

For 16 year-old Stephanas Exantus, the program is something constructive.

''Instead of being on the streets, I'm helping younger kids,'' he said.

Others like Michelle Morin, 17, have taken the opportunity to hone their
communication skills.

''It's really opened me up; I can explain things a lot better now,'' she
said.



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