“What a difference you can make simply by volunteering.”
From teaching in the classroom to retired middle school principal, Jim Thomas is no stranger to the world of education. While teaching literature at the middle school level, Jim saw many students fall behind in reading.
As an educator, over time Jim could see how falling behind in reading effected the student’s education. That, along with many other things, showed him how critical reading is. This is one of the many reasons Jim chose to be a One to One coach.
One to One coaching is a program of the Northern Kentucky Education Council which trains the coaches and connects them to local schoolchildren who need some extra help.
Although he taught literature, Jim is both a reading and a math coach. Jim coaches reading at Mason Corinth Elementary and both reading and math at Williamstown Elementary.
He has been coaching reading for five years now and math for one. Jim works with three students each year, two in reading and one in math for 45 minutes a week. The students he coaches are either in 2nd or 3rd grade, and are usually boys but this year he has a girl as one of this reading students.
Each of his students keep a reading journal so they can review all the different books they read throughout the year. When working with his math students, Jim plays fun games like Yatzee and dice so they students enjoy what they are doing while still practicing their math skills.
Jim got involved with One to One coaching in a unique way.
Jim is heavily involved and does a lot of volunteer work with the Grant County Kiwanis club. He is currently the president of the organization and won Volunteer of the Year from the Grant County Chamber of Commerce for his work with the Kiwanis Club and the One to One program.
Jim Thomas and friend
Five years ago, after a meeting a fellow Kiwanis club member said, “Hey Jim by the way I signed you up for One to One coaching! Someone will contact you soon.” Jim was very confused by this because he had never heard of the One to One program, but when he was contacted by the Northern Kentucky Education Council he decided to get involved.
Jim has many different stories about the impact and improvement he has seen in his one to one students. Jim recalls one story where he saw a past student and their family at the local Walmart. When he saw them, ironically they were buying books. Jim asked the student, “Do you remember me?”. The student replied, “I will never forget you. You helped me learn how to read!”
Another story Jim recalls occurred last school year when he worked with a reading and a math student in the same grade at the same school. The students spoke with each other about the different games/stories they played/read with “Mr. Thomas.” When they met with Jim next the reading student wanted to race dice and count, like the math student told him about, and the math student wanted to read a book about a dare devil, like the reading student told him about.
Jim encourages anyone looking to give back to get involved with the reading or math One to One programs.
He said, “It’s not difficult and you don’t have to have a background in education. The Northern Kentucky Education Council gives you all the materials you need to be a coach.”
Jim volunteers alongside his friends in Kiwanis club who don’t have a background in education. “Even though they don’t have a background in education, they still enjoy volunteering,” Jim said.
Registration is open for the One to One: Practicing Reading and Math with Students program. For more information or to sign up for one of our trainings, please visit the website or contact Leslie Armstrong at (859) 282-9214.
This story is one of series on One to One coaches in cooperation with the Northern Kentucky Education Council.
