United Way Seeking Volunteers for Raise Your Hand Tutoring Program
Volunteer Tutors Help Students Improve Math, Reading Skills
August 22, 2022, GREATER NASHVILLE TENN.—United Way of Greater Nashville is seeking volunteers for its 2022-23 Raise Your Hand tutoring program in Williamson and Robertson counties.
Tutors serve before and after school alongside teachers to help first- through fourth-grade students who are struggling with reading and math. Volunteers commit to one hour per week for up to 10 weeks starting in September, tutoring students individually or in small-group sessions. No teaching experience is required, and training is provided.
“We rely so much on our volunteer tutors to listen to and coach each child to success in the classroom,” said Sonya Johnson, manager of education initiatives at United Way. “Our tutors help break down learning barriers that so many children face and help them gain the tools they need to be confident learners. This program could not happen without the support of our dedicated volunteers. Tutors add an extra layer of confidence to strengthen the literacy and comprehension skills for each student that will prepare them to achieve reading proficiency and succeed in school and beyond.”
Since 2012, Raise Your Hand has partnered with administrators and teachers at Williamson County Schools and Franklin Special School District to implement free tutoring sessions. For the 2020-21 school year:
- 89 volunteer tutors helped 375 students from 13 elementary schools.
- Enrollment increased by 33 percent from the previous school year.
- 87 percent of students improved their reading skills.
- 83 percent of students improved their math skills.
The program will be new to Robertson County this year, thanks to a generous expansion grant from the Tennessee Department of Education.
This project is funded under a grant contract with the State of Tennessee. To learn more about Raise Your Hand or to become a volunteer, visit unitedwaygreaternashville.org/raise-your-hand.
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About United Way of Greater Nashville
At United Way, we unite the community and mobilize resources so that every child, individual and family thrives. Together, we are working to create a community where every child receives a quality education, no one lives in poverty or poor health, and the most basic needs of our families are met. We are uniquely positioned to the lead this fight by bringing individuals, businesses, nonprofits and government to the table to have the tough conversations, mobilize the resources and make the smart investments that will create lasting solutions for our region’s most pressing issues. For more information, visit unitedwaynashville.org and follow us on social media @UWNashville.
