BEA AmeriCorps volunteers have been tutoring students recently. Left to right are Lora Duncan, Diane Petts and Mike Petts. Not pictured is Nick Neurohr.

It takes a village to make a school district successful – students, parents and guardians, and, of course, many, many staff members.

The Blue Earth Area (BEA) School District succeeds through the efforts of classroom teachers, administrators, custodians, paraprofessionals, and, more recently, AmeriCorps tutors.

Four AmeriCorps tutors are currently serving BEA Schools, and, above all, they share they love feeling they can make a difference in students’ lives.

BEA’s veteran AmeriCorps tutor, Nick Neurohr, has been a part of the AmeriCorps program for four years.

His colleagues Lora Duncan and Diane Petts, meanwhile, joined the program two years ago, while tutor Mike Petts is completing his first year as an AmeriCorps tutor.

Molly Moore, BEA’s Title I coordinator literacy and math coach and reading and math core internal coach, explains that being an AmeriCorps tutor involves “providing research-based interventions for a targeted group of students.” 

In layman’s terms, Duncan adds she and her colleagues provide extra practice for “students that need a little extra help.” 

Each of BEA’s four AmeriCorps tutors has a specialty. While Duncan and Diane Petts tutor K-3 students in reading, Neurohr and Mike Petts serve as math tutors for grade 4-7 students.

Their services are a relatively new addition to BEA Schools.

Moore explains after hearing interest expressed in the AmeriCorps program by community members, the district decided to apply for its tutoring services two years ago.

Moore recalls the process was fairly straightforward.

“It’s just a matter of filling out the paperwork and saying we’re interested,” she says.

The AmeriCorps program itself was first created in 1993 as a government agency for national and community service.

As the organization’s website states, “AmeriCorps members and AmeriCorps Seniors volunteers serve directly with nonprofit organizations to tackle our nation’s most pressing challenges.” 

The organization focuses upon making an impact in a number of key areas, including economic opportunity, disaster response, environmental stewardship, healthy futures and veterans and military families.

BEA Schools is currently a beneficiary of the organization’s educational focus, and has been hosting AmeriCorps tutors for the past two years as a result.

The tutors say they love what they do – specifically, working one-on-one with students to help them succeed.

Neurohr, who currently lives in Fairmont, served the Granada-Huntley-East Chain School District and Kasson-Mantorville Public Schools before joining BEA’s team this school year.

Meanwhile, Diane Petts and Duncan are completing their second year at BEA, and as AmeriCorps volunteers overall.

“What a blessing it’s been,” Duncan, a Granada resident, says of her time working with BEA. “It’s an amazing school district to work for.” 

Petts also loves what she does.

“The service opportunity is what I was looking for,” Petts, a Wells resident, explains. “I like to see (students) succeed and develop confidence in their reading ability.”

Petts enjoys her position so much, in fact, she convinced Mike Petts, her husband, to join the AmeriCorps tutoring program this year.

“I enjoy teaching, so that’s what drew me into it,” Petts recalls.  

All four of the tutors seem to share a love for teaching and children. Developing meaningful relationships with BEA students has been the key to their success.

“I like being able to go down the hall, have the kids call my name and give me a high-five,” Mike Petts says.

“The teaching staff is amazing, and my relationships with students – each one is unique,” Duncan adds. “I love watching them get it – that light bulb moment.” 

The tutors, and Moore, have noticed an increase in ‘light bulb moments’ this year.

They note many students have been able to ‘test,’ or ‘exit’ out of the tutoring program recently. Students who test out have demonstrated they are proficient in reading or math, and no longer require additional tutoring.

“I have exited a lot more kids this year than I did last year,” Duncan says. She estimates as of this week, she has exited 13 students out of the program for reading.

Moore, who is in charge of monitoring the progress of students enrolled in BEA’s tutoring program, agrees it has been particularly successful this year.

In fact, she says BEA Schools hopes to expand the program next school year.

“We have been approved for two new K-3 math tutors,” Moore shares. “We would love to get volunteers.” 

She explains AmeriCorps volunteers receive a stipend, as well as loan forgiveness and full health insurance coverage, with benefits.

“AmeriCorps does have solid training and fidelity checks,” Diane Petts adds. As of now, training is held fully online due to COVID restrictions.

Moore encourages anybody who is interested in joining BEA Schools as an AmeriCorps tutor to reach out to BEA Elementary principal Dave Dressler.

BEA’s current AmeriCorps tutors feel their involvement in the program has been a rewarding experience.

“I love all aspects of my job here,” Duncan concludes. “I just love children, and I have a love for reading myself. I want to make a difference in students’ lives.”