This January, we added three new members to our Schools of Hope family! Meet Marcia Wirt, Schools of Hope Tutor Coordinator at Westside Elementary School in Sun Prairie, Wisconsin. Prior to joining our team as an AmeriCorps Member, Marcia volunteered at her service site for three years. According to Marcia, Westside Elementary is a great place, [with] great teachers and staff, and some great kids!
With a big smile like that, she is sure to brighten some student’s days! Marcia graduated from Carleton College in Northfield, Minnesota, with a degree in Sociology. Since her retirement, Marcia has done a lot of volunteering, because she feels that volunteering has taught her so much and expands her world view. Marcia decided to sign on as an AmeriCorps Member with Schools of Hope Strong because she believes that early literacy skills are foundational to student’s lifetime success.
Says Marcia, “Children need to build self esteem and solid reading skills at a young age to give them their best chance at achieving their goals in life (and even being able to imagine and set their goals). I recognize that we ask too much of teachers and give them too few resources (let alone adequate pay), so would like to pitch in.” Marcia, we heartily agree! As an AmeriCorps Member, Marcia is hoping to make a positive contribution to the education of young students during a very difficult time also. She loves kids and tutoring, so she’s in the exact right spot!
Like many people on our SOH Team, Marcia loves the outdoors. (I wonder what the correlation is between outdoorsy people and volunteering for kids literacy?) When she is not volunteering, Marcia likes to hike, canoe, and go camping. And like many other people, she also enjoys traveling in a pandemic-free world. Marcia’s favorite children’s book is The Boy, the Mole, the Fox and the Horse by Charlie Mackesy, and she says she is happy to be working with such a great group of people.
I think I speak for everyone when I say, Marcia, we’re happy to have you too!
SCHOOLS OF HOPE 