Jeannine’s Story
In August, a neuropsychologist reached out to our team seeking literacy support for a family with six children, two of whom were experiencing significant difficulties in reading. Frequent moves had left the family unable to find consistent, affordable help. The physician, familiar with the Slant System and its life-changing impact on struggling readers, knew a Slant-trained teacher could make all the difference. He was determined to finally get the children the help they deserved.
Enter Jeannine (above, second from left), an extraordinary reading teacher currently participating in the year-long Slant Training and Practicum, partially funded by Classmates Literacy Foundation. The practicum requires teachers to spend a minimum of 60 hours providing instruction to 2 students over the course of the program. Most teachers satisfy the requirement with students at school or with those they tutor. However, when Jeannine heard about the challenges the family was experiencing she stepped up in a BIG way.
Jeannine chose to dedicate her time to this family at no cost. Two to three times a week, Jeannine drives 30 minutes to the family’s home to provide individualized, one-on-one literacy tutoring to the two children—one in second grade and the other in fifth grade.
Jeannine has a deeply personal connection to our mission. As the mother of an adult son with dyslexia, she knows the struggles families face when searching for support. She witnessed firsthand how struggling with reading affected her son’s confidence, including moments when he refused to go to school. This experience drives her to ensure other families can access the intervention they need early on. Her dedication extends beyond this family. As the wife and mom of first responders, she has spent years quietly giving back to her community by providing free literacy tutoring to children of first responder families who struggle with reading.
When you support Classmates Literacy Foundation, you empower teachers like Jeannine, who go above and beyond for the students who need them most. This season of giving, please consider making a tax-deductible donation to support educators who create lasting change in our communities.