“All they need is someone to be there for them.”
Jeff Bier, an engineering manager for the manufacturing plant at Celanese, doubles as a reading and math coach at Beechgrove Elementary. He works with the students during his lunch break and returns to work after their session is over.
Jeff began volunteering for the One to One reading and math programs simply because giving back is “something he likes to do.” He also has a son around the age of the students he helps within the programs (1st grade-3rd grade). Imagining his son or a student like his son needing one on one attention and not having the opportunity to receive it motivated him to get involved.
One to One coaching is a project of the Northern Kentucky Education Council which trains volunteer coaches and works with local schools to place them with students who need a little extra help in reading or math.
Jeff first heard about the opportunity through a coworker who was also volunteering during their lunch break. Last year he worked with one student who is in the second grade for both math and reading.
“It doesn’t take much time at all but the community really benefits from these programs,” Jeff said. “You can tell when things are starting to click, and a lightbulb goes off for them. It’s really rewarding.”
Jeff shared that he hasn’t to use difficult techniques to capture the student’s attention. Jeff contributed this to the quality of the program and the schools recognizing who would benefit most and picking the students who truly need help. They just enjoy the attention and extra time Jeff gives them; possibly because this is the only one on one attention some of these students receive.
Jeff Bier
One specific situation that stood out for Jeff was when his student improved dramatically on their standardized test scores. His student improved 11% from the previous year. Jeff, the teacher, and the student were all very excited about this accomplishment. This is a time when he could see the progress and improvement he was making with the One to One program first hand.
Another situation Jeff recalls was when he was working with a student who often misbehaved in the classroom. Jeff said once the student received one on one attention, his attitude and behavior improved tremendously.
Jeff feels it’s important to get to know the student you’re working with. He spends their first few sessions together getting to know them and making them more comfortable with the atmosphere. This helps him form a bond with them so they will be more willing to pay attention and learn. Jeff shared that the students appreciate and benefit from this type of attention.
Jeff also spoke about how his employer, Celanese, encourages their employees to give back and make it extremely easy for them to do so. This is something that Jeff believes is very beneficial for both the community and the company. Celanese asks all employees to participate in volunteer work of their choice.
“Good employees must have a good education, so this just seemed to be a great fit!” Jeff said.
Jeff’s advice for anyone interested in the One to One programs is, “If you’re thinking about it, just try it. It’s a really good program and the kit and materials they give you are really effective. I really enjoy doing it. You do it to give back but you get so much in return.”
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 a series on One to One coaches in cooperation with the Northern Kentucky Education Council.
