Academic Learning Center success stories

Al Bonnyman has always enjoyed reading.
The former Navy officer, who has traveled the world, subscribes to the New York Times, The Washington Post and The Independent Tribune, among others. 

As voracious a reader as he is, Bonnyman has always had a passion for children’s books, dating back to reading them to his own children when they were young. 

And he has found a great way to channel that love: Bonnyman is one of a dozen volunteers affiliated with All Saints Episcopal Church who spend time each week at Fred L. Wilson Elementary School in Kannapolis. The volunteers provide after- school help to some 25 first- and second-grade students to help improve their reading skills. 

The Concord-based Academic Learning Center oversees the program, known as “Hero in Me.” The center has been operating for over two decades and offers free tutoring to Title 1 elementary schools in the Cabarrus County and Kannapolis City school systems. 

At the majority of the schools, teachers provide tutoring services to the students. Fred L. Wilson is the only one, as of now, where outside volunteers are helping the students. 

“Our commonality is we love children and want to support these kids who just need a little boost,” said Karen Robinson about the “Hero in Me” program, which began last school year. 

The volunteers work with the same students each week, which allows them to develop trust and strong bonds with the children. Most of the students are Hispanic, with English being their second language. 

“I’m sort of like their second dad because most of the teachers in this school are female,” said George Monroe, who provides weekly help to two first-grade students and one second-grade student. “They’ll sort of tease me and I’ll tease them, and we get along very well.” 

He remembers a moment with one of his first graders, who was impressed by Monroe’s ability to connect with him. “You’ve taught me a lot,” Monroe said the child told him. “Can you teach me every day?” 

Brenda Trott, a former elementary teacher and children’s librarian, has enjoyed being able to work with kids again. 

“It is extremely rewarding for us as adults and volunteers, and I hope it is for them as well,” Trott told the paper as she was helping a second grader craft a paper turkey. She also read with the student one of his favorite books: “Pete the Cat: The First Thanksgiving.” 

The students’ confidence in not just their reading comprehension but their ability to complete tasks has increased because of the mentoring, said Anna Hogan, the school’s instructional data coach, who also acts as a liaison between the volunteers and the teachers. “More than anything, there is an increase of that ... piece of knowing that when I approach a task, I can do it,” Hogan said. “That has really spilled over into instructional tasks in all subject areas.” 

Teachers have also noticed improvements in students receiving the extra weekly assistance. 

“I have seen positive impacts in small group and classroom activities,” said first- grade teacher Kristy Galusha. “Because my students have additional practice time with their mentors for foundational reading skills, they approach reading more confidently and have been more eager to participate during Letterland routines like Live Reading and Live Spelling.” 

Al Bonnyman understands from a very personal level the power of a good children’s book. Earlier this year, while traveling in Switzerland, he developed an infection and was in the ICU for nine weeks. 

It got so bad that they administered Bonnyman’s last rites twice, after placing him on a ventilator. While in a coma, his daughter read to him his favorite children’s book, “The Sailor Dog,” by Margaret Wise Brown. 

While he does not remember his daughter reading to him about Scuppers the dog and his irresistible urge to sail the sea, he is convinced “that I heard it.” 

Although Bonnyman has still not fully recovered from his sickness, volunteering his time at Fred L. Wilson and sharing his love for children’s books continues to be its own type of special reward. 

“We live in a very practical world; there’s no magic in our world,” he said. “Children live in a world of magic and this gives us a chance to look at that world through their eyes.” 

Article by Christopher Miller