AUGUSTINE LITERACY PROJECTCharlotte

Dear Friends,

Thanks to your generous support ALP is growing, both in our reach and in our development as a non-profit organization. This year we will increase the number of new tutors we train by 68% - we have already trained 43 new tutors this fall who join the ranks of over 140 dedicated, experienced tutors! We also welcomed two new partner schools, Greenway Park and Ashley Park. This year ALP will serve more children than ever before, 230 aspiring readers in over 20 schools.

In February, ALP achieved a milestone when we became an independent non-profit entity which will expand our fundraising and service opportunities. As a result, we hired a business office manager as well as other key staff positions which will increase our capacity to accelerate growth and serve more children in the years to come. Please see alpcharlotte.org to meet our entire team of passionate, talented board and staff members who are committed to developing literacy in young people.

Why are we working so hard to extend our reach? The answer is simple: We know that for economically disadvantaged children who start school one to two years behind grade level, the tutoring we provide is critical to unlocking a brighter future. Learning to read by third grade can mean the difference between leaving school without a diploma and leading a life of opportunity.

Research tells us that children who fall behind in reading in first grade have only a 1 in 8 chance of ever catching up to grade level without extraordinary efforts. Fortunately, the opposite is also true: 96 percent of proficient third grade readers will graduate from high school. If you can unlock the key to reading before a child completes third grade, you can unlock a lifetime of learning.

We know that the need for our services is truly great. While we will serve over 200 children in Charlotte this year—a record number for our organization—there are at least 1,000 more students who need the one-on-one, explicit, systematic instruction of an ALP tutor to fill gaps in foundational reading skills and get back on track. At ALP, we are working hard to meet this challenge by engaging in “strategic growth” – which means we are committed to expanding our reach without compromising quality.

With your continued engagement, I know that we can achieve this growth and put more students on the path to success. This holiday season, please consider increasing your investment in ALP and inviting others join our efforts. New and increased donations will be matched by the ALP board, up to $50,000!

As always, I want to thank you for your support—whether you serve as a tutor, donor, school partner, or simply a cheerleader for us in the Charlotte community—Augustine Literacy Project-Charlotte would not exist without your generosity.

Happy holidays,

Fall 2019

Schools We ServeAllenbrook Elementary

Ashley Park Elementary*Billingsville Elementary*

Blythe ElementaryBrookstone Schools*

Bruns Avenue Elementary*Dilworth Elementary-Sedgefield*Elizabeth Traditional Elementary*

Greenway Park Elementary*Huntingtowne Farms Elementary*

Marie G. Davis* Matthews Elementary

Montclaire Elementary*Oakhurst STEAM Academy*Olde Providence Elementary

Park Road MontessoriPineville Elementary

Rama Road Elementary*Renaissance West STEAM Academy

Sterling Elementary*Trinity Episcopal School Urban Promise/HFES

Westerly Hills AcademyWinding Springs Elementary*

*ALP Partner School

BoardTom Temple, Chair

Jenny Beaumont, Vice Chair Koren Cranford, TreasurerValerie Roberts, Secretary

Jim Boylan, Governance ChairBonnie Fleming • Fannie Flono

Harris Holt • Kelly Keeling Des Keller • Kristin LaPrise

Anjali Markey • Michele MelchiorBert Miano • Christina O’Dell

Don OlmsteadStaff

Alison Houser, Executive Director Ellen Babb, Business Office ManagerKelly Halmrast, Training Coordinator Jess Heath, Administrative Support

Helen Hope Kimbrough, Engagement & Recruitment Manager

Jessica Klasinski, Director of DevelopmentLeslie Mackinson, Assistant TrainerMichelle Miller, Training Manager

Jan Tiffany, Administrative SupportSite Coordinators:

Anne Bayliss • Sandy CarterJudy Degernes • Susanna Meyer

Pam Ross • Lynn SchweitzerAlyssa Wood

ContributeWe rely heavily on individual

contributions and appreciate all donations. Please donate using the

enclosed card, or online: alpcharlotte.org

Alison Houser ALP-Charlotte

Executive Director

We are pleased to thank the following Community and Individual Partners, and acknowledge their generous support: THE AUGUSTINE SOCIETYAccelerators ($10,000+)AnonymousThe Belk FoundationThe Charlotte Mecklenburg Community Foundation, Children & Youth FundGabi & Scott CulpepperThe Dowd FoundationChristy & Rodney DurbinForest Hill ChurchJames Family FoundationKnight FoundationThe Leon Levine FoundationKristin LaPrise & Barbara LomThe Merancas Foundation, IncJill & Don OlmsteadOrthoCarolina FoundationJulia David PriesterAndrea & Sean SmithAnn & Tom TempleWells Fargo FoundationTHE AUGUSTINE SOCIETYInvestors ($5,000-$9,999)Vivian & Jim BoylanThe Good Samaritan FundKathy & Ben HillKelly & John KeelingCatherine KendallChristina & Dee O’DellPark Road Baptist ChurchRed VenturesTHE AUGUSTINE SOCIETYVisionaries ($2,500-$4,999)AnonymousBrighthouse Financial FoundationSally & Ward DavisAnnette & Shaun DreyerEpiscopal Church Women of Christ ChurchRusty & Tony GrayHahn - Mason Air Systems, IncKelly & Mark HalmrastNancy & Rob HarrisAlison HouserLindsey HouserMary & Bill LunsfordWandra & George MackieAnjali & John MarkeyPark Road Baptist Church Anne & Scott PerperPaul ReichsRobinson BradshawSt. Martin’s Episcopal ChurchSt. Peter’s Episcopal ChurchUnited Way of Central CarolinasUS BankTHE AUGUSTINE SOCIETYChampions ($1,000-$2,499)Carol Gray-Adler & James AdlerJudith & John AlexanderAllied Caster & Equipment Co.Candace ArmstrongBank of America Charitable Foundation Eleanor & James Barnhardt FoundationJenny & Michael BeaumontKumKum BasinBeth & Bill BowenMary & Charles BowmanHelen & Bob BradfordJean BrinkmannJames BullockClearview Wealth ManagementJean & Gene CochraneKoren & Steve CranfordMary CranfordBenner CriglerLucy & Perrin DesPortesNancy & Bruce DowningRebecca & Mike DrendelMartha & Eric EubankLeigh & Chris FerranteFirst Presbyterian Church, Presbyterian WomenBonnie FlemingLaura & James FreemanKatie GarveyLaura & Marshall GilchristAmanda & John GriggEleanor & Rick HahnMark HawkinsHeather & Bob HayesLinda & Bill HefnerJosephine Hicks

Katie & Stuart HicksTammie & Lou LesesneJulie Lerner LevineMark MaierKerry & Charles McCarvilleRebecca & William McNairMichele MelchiorVirginia & Geoff PalmerMary Ruth & Philip PayneElaine & Joe PetersonKathy & Lat PurserValerie Pearsall RobertsCourtney RogersBeth RogersonBlair & Ivon RohrerPam & Kelly RossSarah & Allen ShiffletThe Marc & Mattye Silverman Family FoundationPatty & Don SmythAmbika & Jeff SpinazzolaKirsten Baldwin & Justin SteinschriberAnn & Wellford TaborAllison & John TibeThe Trexler FoundationAmy & Mark VitnerJulie & Perry WhiteHolly & Jim WoodMary Virginia & Dan WoodallVelva & Tom Woollen

Builders ($500-$999)AnonymousLou BeasleyDavid Deal & Steve BentleyChris BlackLaura & Sam BowlesWendy BrennanCharlie BrinleyCynthia & Peter BuckCapTechTom CatoBetsey ChalmersDuke Energy FoundationDiane DumaisJo Haden & Madison GalbraithBobbie & Richard HahnTerrye & Mike HartnettGary HemricBeth & Bill HobbsLyttleton & Thomas HollowellJenny & Neil HutchisonGary LeegateBarrie & Lawrence LewisJenny MartellaDee Dee & Bill MaxwellDebbie & David McCarthyRebecca MinardNoDa Brewing CompanyMelanie PiasecherPiper Glen Women’s Golf Association, 9 HolersMargo & Joseph PosnanskiJody & Randall RothMr. & Mrs. Ken SamuelsonCindy & Rich SchneiderSelwyn Avenue Presbyterian ChurchSusan SherrillPatti SnowBill StevensonAlice & Brent TorstrickThe Trent Family FoundationAnne & Christopher WoolleyTony Zeiss

Advocates ($250-$499)AnonymousAnn & Bob AbelNatalie AkinRon AlmondAddison & Randall AyerJudi BainbridgeMissy BanksJan & Jim BrittainChristina CaldwellChris CarabellKatherine & Garland CassadaAnn ClarkLinda Gallehugh & Ellison ClaryKathy CornellDee Dee & Ed DalrympleGloria DziewiszMinna & Mike ElliottElsie ErnestonLisa & Carlos EvansKristy & Brent EvansEmily FeltMaria & Barry Fenwick

Amanda FleishmanFannie FlonoJeanne & Robert FullerCandace & Jim FurrDon GatelyTim GraySteve HallMeg HancockSue HarveyMatt HolcombeMeg & Jerry HoltJennifer & Greg JonesSusan Dosier & Des KellerNathalie L. Klaus Charitable Lead UnitrustJulie & David LavoieMary Ellen McElroyBeth & Daniel McGinleyAnn & Bert MianoDebbie & Rick MillerLynn & John MullerKathleen & Thomas O’BannonPage & David PondMalyn & Vince PrattSherri & Hank RalstonCourtney & John RameyAnn ReedDonna RiceLesley & Lanier ShullTricia SistrunkRussell SizemoreMary Davis & Skip SmartJulie & Neil SmithJeanne SteeleLaurie & Douglas SteeleSara SteelmanRich StephensThe Stone FamilyClaire & John TateMichael TemplePatrick TorreyAmy & Hal TribbleMary McComb TurnerMelissa VulloRobin WeaverKelly ZellarsBookworms ($1-$249)AnonymousKim & Robert AddenHolly AlexanderJohanna AndersonAshley & Grant ArmisteadErin AshendorfEllen & Joel BabbBen BaldwinDenise BallengerKathryn & Ed BaloghCarol & Jim BartosSherri BeaverDebbie BlystoneKatharine & Doug BoltGlenn BooneTom BowersAnnie BowlesCathy BreedenNancy BroyhillChristina BrunnemerElise & Charles CatheyElizabeth & Saxby ChaplinMack ClarkJohn CleghornGinny CobbBridget CohenTerrie CohnBetsy ConwaySue CoonenKatharine & Mike CowanHannah CraighillDebbie CurtissElyse DashewElizabeth & Joe DavantDavidson CollegeJoanne & Charles DavidsonKathleen DeanJennifer DeWittJen & Jim DrizosWilliam EastLarken EglestonJonathan FalletRebecca & John FantPam FoltzMelissa GamezLourdes Gee

Beth GeigerCarol GiardiAnne GildeaJudy GlosterCindy & Walter GoldsmithEsther & Scott GoldsteinJoy GrovesHeather & Alton GwaltneyCarolyn HainesEvelyn Maben-Hall & Hugh HallJill & Jim HarrisSally & Andrew HarrissJasmine HathawayBarbara & Charles HaugheyKim & Brian HeathPatty & Jim HenderliteJohn & Nan HendersonKate & Van HillAddie HolzmanRuth HoodPage & Martin HullDavid JacobsonLea & Stuart JohnsonSis KaplanBarbara KeelingKathy & Patrick KellyBeryl KingIrene KingBev KingMaureen KivneyJessica KlasinskiAnnie KochMartina KoehlerSarah & John KomisinLindsay LambertsonAnn LambiotteThomas LedbetterNatalie LewisChrista LinebergerMaria & Nash LongKaren MacKenzieVictoria ManningCynthia MarshallPatricia MartinCamilla MazzottaAnn McCainSue & Mike McCoyJJ McEarchernArrington & Burch MixonJacqueline Farrell-Mulholland & Terrence MulhollandLinde & Bill MullisKaren & Andy NicholsonNovaro Group, LLCBenjamin Outen & Michael OharaElise & Donald OrensteinConnie OttAllan & Marcelle OxmanShelby PatrickJulie PeachMary & Ira PearceLorrina Eastman & James PegramPEO Chapter GSidney PerkinsonMary Scott PetersonKristen & Michael PiscitelliCornie PleasantsBuntin PodrebaracChristy PriesterBecky & Lester RansonKelly RawlesAnn & Blaine SandersMarion & Mike ShieldsJo ShirleyJane Perry ShoemakerSusan Spencer Smith & Brian SmithLogan SmithBetsy SmithAdam SperlingSandy StewmanPaula SymondsLea TolbertCarlen WeselovsJacquie WhiteTiffany WhiteSteve WhiteLiz WickerLinda WilliamSuzanne & Peter WilsonSandy & Doug WilsonSophie WoodJulian & Amy WrightHyacinth & Peter Young

We continue to build this vital community project with the generous support of

St. Peter’s Episcopal Church. We offer special thanks to St. Martin’s Episcopal Church,

Park Road Baptist Church & Christ Church for hosting our tutor training classes and events.

We offer special thanks to Elizabeth Traditional Elementary, Oakhurst STEAM Academy, Rama Road Elementary, Marie G. Davis Elementary, Sedgefield Elementary,

and Winding Springs Elementary for serving as tutor training practicum sites.

For more information, contact us:Augustine Literacy Project–Charlotte® 115 West 7th Street Charlotte, NC 28202704-749-6162jheath@alpcharlotte.orgwww.alpcharlotte.org

Charlotte, NC Spring 2014 AUGUSTINE LITERACY PROJECT®

THE NEED IS GREAT. HELP US GROW!

Our Miss ion

THIS FILLS MY HEART (Names of the children have been changed to protect their identity.)

There’s nothing more painful than watching your child struggle. Augustine tutor Marion Idol knows this from personal experience. She was familiar with a multi-sensory ap-proach to reading instruction from taking special education classes to help her own son years ago. Marion jumped at the chance to take the Augustine Literacy Project training when she heard about it on Charlotte Talks.

“I fell in love with Mariah, the little girl I worked with during training, and contin-ued tutoring her at Elizabeth Traditional,” Marion said. “Then I heard that the mother of

another child was begging for help for her son, John, and I told the director I wanted to work with a second student.”

Augustine’s structured approach is one of the things Marion appreciates most because it is designed to help children experience suc-cess. “I’ve volunteered a lot in the schools, and actually tutored children, but I always wondered if I was really helping them. As an Augustine tutor, I know it's working. You see the lights go on.”

At the end of their first lesson, Marion handed John a book to test the sounds he’d just practiced. “He read that book to me and looked at me with the biggest eyes. ‘You’re a fantastic reader!’ I told him, and he said, ‘No one has ever said that to me before.’ Now he loves to read with me at the end of every lesson!

“He has the biggest personality. I had him reading multi-syllable words and wanted to push him a little bit. He sounded out the word ‘columnist’ and I asked him, ‘Do you know what that is?’ And he slapped his leg and said ‘I have no idea!’

“One reason I was willing to take a second student was their needs are very different. The parents of Mariah were very concerned for her because there’s no English spoken at home. We used the Augustine curriculum with great success for her second grade year. Now that she is reading fluently in third grade, I provide comprehension support to her in the regular classroom,” Marion said.

“One of the highlights of my week is to go and work with Mariah and John. Some people say they feel lost after their youngest leaves the nest. Don’t get me wrong, I miss my own children, but this fills my heart.” -Virginia Brien

Become a Volunteer Literacy Tutor (Or, refer a friend!):

Support a Volunteer Literacy Tutor: It costs ALP $650 to train a tutor. Volunteer tutors pay for materials only. Once trained, Augustine tutors provide a minimum of 60 hours of free tutoring to a low-income child who struggles with literacy, a market value of $3,000. Augustine staff provide ongoing support and education to tutors and work with schools to match tutors with at-risk readers. Donations of all amounts are welcome. Please complete the enclosed “Be a Spark!” card and honor those who taught you or your children to read by supporting an Augustine tutor who will teach an at-risk child to read. We will send acknowledgment notes to your honorees. Your gift will enable us to say “yes!” when we receive tutor requests.

“To learn to read is to light a fire; every syllable that is spelled out is a spark.” Victor Hugo

Summer Training Workshop August 4-15, 2014

Fall Training Workshop: September 8-19, 2014

is to improve the reading, writing and spelling skills of low income students who struggle with literacy by providing free, long-term one-on-one instruction from highly trained volunteer tutors.

Augustine L iteracy Project–Charlotte

Email jheath@augustine.st-peters.org for an application.

Augustine Literacy Project (ALP) receives tutor requests from principals, teachers and parents that we cannot fill. Our goal is to train 30 additional tutors for the 2014-15 school year who will assist low-income first– and second– graders who are a year or more be-hind in reading. Augustine students typically show a year’s worth or more of progress after 30 sessions with their tutor. There are two ways you can partner with us to meet the needs of additional at-risk children:

CONTRIBUTOR LIST : November 2018 – October 2019

Tutor Spotlight: Anne Bayliss “Tutor One Child, Change Two Lives”Eight-year-old boys and poetry aren’t usually a winning combination. But poetry turned out to be just the ticket for “Mark”, an inquisitive student who has become a solid reader with the help of his Augustine tutor.

Maybe the choice of books helped, his tutor Anne Bayliss recalled with a laugh. Be Glad Your Nose Is on Your Face by Jack Prelutsky was the first poetry text she shared with Mark. “It’s silly,” Anne said, “but it makes (students) think just a bit and grabs their attention.”

Another book that resonated with Mark was “Three Tales of My Father’s Dragon” by Ruth Stile Gannett. He was glued to the book and it gave us the best opportunity to target comprehension,” Anne recalled. “Mark also especially enjoyed books about basketball players Stephen Curry and Lebron James, and President Barack Obama,” she said.

Delving into books that sparked his interest was the beginning of a remarkable journey for Mark. When he began working with Anne two years ago, Mark was significantly below his grade level in reading. Since then, he has made steady progress. After first working to master sounds, Mark moved from being a “Random Vowel Generator” (for example, pronouncing “hat” as “het” or “hit” or “hot” or “hut”) to knowing all his letter and digraph sounds and then pronouncing them correctly within words. He also conquered his sight words and did very well with nonsense words.

Anne, who had a successful career in public accounting and financial services, counts her ALP tutoring as “the most meaningful work” she has done. ANNUAL FUND TRIBUTES

In Honor of:Candace ArmstrongMr. & Mrs. Ed CookSue CoonenAnne DavantJudy DegernesBonnie FlemingLaura FreemanAnne & Steve Garrett Rusty & Tony GrayTim & Gail GrayEleanor HahnJess HeathLinda HefnerIda & Herbert Helms and Dahn HelmsAlison Houser

Marion IdolBeverly KingJessica KlasinskiAnna Blair & Jamie KneiselLou LesesnePaula LombardiKaren MacKenzieAnjali and John MarkeyDebbie McCarthyMr. & Mrs. Pender McElroyGeorge MilesWendy MunceElizabeth NicholsSPE’s Clergy & StaffMunro Richardson, READ Charlotte

Blair & Ivon RohrerLauren & Ivon Rohrer, III Marsden SaleNancy SmithAmbika SpinazzolaALP StaffStudent at Oakhurst STEAM AcademyAnn & Tom TempleDr. & Mrs. WelkeSophie Wood

In Memory of:Jim BartosJohn CressMilton Gee

Our MissionTo improve the reading, writing and spelling skills of low-income students who struggle with literacy

by providing free, long-term, one-on-one instruction from highly trained volunteer tutors.

®

(continued on next page)

Fall 2019ALP-Charlotte News & Noteworthy

Fall Training Welcomes 30 Tutors ALP is proud to welcome 30 new tutors from our September and October classes! These tutors are serving students in the following elementary schools: Ashley Park, Billingsville, Brookstone, Bruns, Elizabeth Traditional, Greenway Park, Huntingtowne Farms, Marie G. Davis, Montclaire, Oakhurst, Rama Road, Renaissance West, and Sterling. We have one more training class this fall and two scheduled for the winter. A key part of tutor training is the practicum, in which trainees assess students and deliver ALP lessons under the watchful eye of experienced coaches. Special thanks to the following coaches of our September and October classes: Kim Adden, Carol Gray-Adler, Marti Cato, Bridget Cohen, Debbie Curtiss, Annette Dreyer, Eleanor Hahn, Leslie Mackinson, Aimee Mascioli, Dorothy McGavran, Beth McGinley, Joe Payment, and Holly Wood.

Meet the ALP Training Team: This dynamic team is responsible for all aspects of new tutor training and continuing education for all tutors.• Michelle Miller - Training Manager • Leslie Mackinson - Assistant Trainer • Kelly Halmrast -Training Coordinator • Jess Heath - Administrative Support

Tutor Training News

Giving Tuesday: December 3rdGiving Tuesday is considered the global day of giving and encourages charitable activities that support nonprofit organizations on the Tuesday immediately following Thanksgiving. Please consider supporting ALP on Giving Tuesday or anytime during the holiday season! #GivingTuesdayCLT

Additional Ways to GiveConsider making a gift of securities to support ALP. Your gift of securities entitles you to a federal charitable income tax deduction. Check with your financial advisor. Gifts of appreciated securities may be tax deductible at their current value and may help avoid capital gains tax. Another great way to give is through a Donor Advised Fund (DAF). This type of charitable giving has grown in recent years and surpassed one billion dollars in total assets. We hope that ALP will be your top consideration.

Rise and Read 2019Christina and Dee O’Dell served as co-chairs of ALP’s 3rd Rise and Read Breakfast. Wells Fargo served as the title sponsor with remarks from Dr. Tony Zeiss, retired President of CPCC. 260 attendees gathered to raise funds to support ALP’s mission. Thank you for your generous support!

September 2019 Tutor Graduates & Coaches

October 2019 Tutor Graduates & Coaches

By the Numbers... Our 2018-19 School Year:

Tutoring Sessions valued at $336,000+Students Served in 20 Charlotte-area Schools

Students Improved in Knowledge of letters, digraphs, and sight wordsGrade Levels of Reading Growth in decoding and word attack

Tutors Returned for the 2019-2020 school year

6,731

200

99%

1.9

83%

Tutor Anne Bayliss (continued from front page)

INFORMATION SESSIONS • November 18, 10:30am • Thompson Child & Family Focus • November 19, 10:30am • Ada Jenkins Center • December 3, 10:30am • Thompson Child & Family FocusLearn more about ALP’s volunteer program and bring a friend!To attend, RSVP to jheath@alpcharlotte.org

Become a Tutor or Refer a Friend!

WINTER 2020 TRAINING CLASSES January 13-17 (5 days) OR February 10-14 (5 days)Apply online at: alpcharlotte.org/become-a-tutor

Now in her fourth year as an ALP tutor, Anne also serves as a site coordinator at Rama Road Elementary and Oakhurst STEAM Academy.

One of the keys to ALP’s success, Anne believes, is the care that is taken by literacy facilitators to select students who have the specific foundational weaknesses in reading that ALP’s intensive, twice-weekly, one-on-one instruction is designed to address.

“This research-based curriculum— and the strong bonds that form between students and tutors—are a winning combination,” Anne said.

And so it was with Mark.

Now in fourth grade, Mark no longer approaches reading as something to dread. At his final tutoring session with Anne, he opened and held the books that Anne had brought, before saying, almost to himself, “I love books.”

NOW is the best time to give! ALP Board members will match any new or increased donations over last year, up to $50,000! For example, if you gave $500 last year, and this year you give $1,000, your increase of $500 will be

matched. This match will close December 31, 2019!

If you have questions about your giving history, please contact:

Jessica Klasinski jklasinski@alpcharlotte.org

ALP Board Announces $50,000 Match!

An Evening with Augustine The Anne Neilson Fine Art Gallery served as the perfect space to thank our Augustine Society donors. We especially appreciate the remarks of Karen Crawford, Literacy Facilitator at Rama Road Elementary, who spoke about the positive impact of Augustine tutors with their students as it relates to reading, writing, spelling, and in many cases, mentoring.

New Training Team

Rama Road ElementaryThank YOU, Rama Road, for the privilege of serving your students. This message warms our hearts!

Winding SpringsParents of Winding Springs Elementary

Pre-K students turned out in force to learn strategies for developing literacy

skills from ALP site coordinators.

Promising PagesJan McGuire and other ALP tutors

sorted “upcycled” books for Promising Pages and then selected great reads

for ALP students.

ResilienceALP, Brookstone Schools, Charlotte

Resilience Project, and Thompson Child & Family Focus hosted a screening of Resilience, followed by a panel

discussion.

Freedom School Partners (FSP)ALP trained FSP interns on multi-sensory sight word instruction that reached over

400 scholars this summer.

Community Engagement & Collaboration

CMSALP Tutors gathered at the October Lunch Bunch to learn about the new

CMS phonics curriculum and the ways ALP tutoring supports this structured

approach to literacy.

Jess, Leslie, Kelly, Michelle