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Church's tutoring program gets high marks
By PAULETTE LASH RITCHIE © St. Petersburg Times, published March 1, 2001 INVERNESS -- The Fellowship Hall at New Birth Gospel Tabernacle was filled with lively, constructive chatter as children from elementary grades through high school gathered around tables to do their homework. They were assisted by several adult volunteers. The project, called Helping Young People Excel, was formed at the beginning of the school year. Twenty to 25 students show up at each session for the free tutoring. The program is overseen by church member John Langley, 33, who is the wellness director at Sumter Correctional Institute. His wife, Tammy Langley, one of the tutors, is a teacher at Floral City Elementary School. Langley said the church had a similar program a few years ago, but it didn't last. "It wasn't the kids," said John Langley. "It was the lack of help we were getting." But the pastor, Bishop Larry Chester, wanted to revive the program. "I guess God laid it on the pastor's heart," Langley said. Langley said that when Chester approached him about starting the tutoring program again, "I was more than willing to take in the task, because I love the kids." Now there are several tutors, three of them Citrus County teachers, available to help any community children in the non-dominational church's program. They meet every Monday from 6 to 8 p.m. and Wednesday from 6 to 7 p.m. "We recommend that they bring homework, but we have work available if they don't," Langley said. The other volunteer tutors are church members Nancy Topping, a Forest Ridge Elementary School teacher; Rick Inman, a Renaissance Center teacher; Patti Chester, Jeff Hollis, Mike Smallridge, Mike Smith, Doug Alexander Sr.; and Jason Jackson, a Citrus High School senior. "I enjoy the young people and part of it is my service to my church," Inman said. He explained that they monitor the students' progress through progress reports. Apparently, the tutoring is successful. "It's really helping me out," said Citrus High 10th-grader Andre Williams, 16. "I've gone from D's to A's and B's. I came because it's a good environment. You've got good helpers and it's involved with the church." The program has been useful to another Citrus High 10th-grader, Desiree Williams, 15. "It helps you a lot. The tutors know what they're doing. They help you with all your work and it really does help you to get your grades up and it's fun," she said. Ladarian Chester, 8, a third-grader at Pleasant Grove Elementary School, says he comes "just to get my work done. (They) help me understand what I'm doing." Tiona Langley, 6, is in the first grade at Floral City Elementary School. And she comes to tutoring "to do my homework and to do the stuff that I need to do." Topping says she is there because she is a church member and felt warmly welcomed there. "I have three of my own children who come here," Topping said. "This church has been wonderful to me and my children and if I can give back to the church by doing this, then I'm more than happy."
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