Today we highlight the work of Joyce and Doyle Crow. These CIS volunteers were honored this past spring at the sixth annual Champ Celebration. (This is the seventh installment of a nine part series.)
Joyce and Doyle Crow: a dynamic duo if there ever was one. For the past six years, CIS Site Coordinator Jody Sikkema has been turning to them to help tutor children in both math and reading at Parkwood Upjohn Elementary School. Trust, she points out, is vital to empowering children to open up and change. The Crow’s establish trust early on by showing up on time each week, committing to working with the same children year after year. When one of Doyle’s student recently changed schools Doyle followed the child to Arcadia Elementary where he continues to support the student and was convinced by Arcadia’s CIS Site Coordinator, Gulnar Husain, to pick up an additional child in need.
The Crows unleash their powers upon children, showering them with abundant kindness, caring, patience, and love. Under their tutelage, children who are struggling academically, behaviorally, or emotionally, blossom.
When Jody recently called a parent to find out how she felt the tutoring with Mr. Crow was going for her son, the mother was stunned by the changes she was seeing in her child. Once disengaged with learning, her son was opening up at home, his attitude towards school improving along with his academics. “He can’t stop talking about Mr. Crow,” she said. Her son, realizing whom his mother was talking about, shouted out, “He’s amazing!”
Last year, one of Joyce’s students suggested that Joyce change her tutoring schedule so that she could come earlier in the week. This would give the student a chance to practice the skills she was learning from Mrs. Crow throughout the week. Joyce didn’t hesitate to rearrange her schedule. And when summer arrived and the student worried that she would lose the gains made, Joyce arranged to tutor her throughout the summer. This past fall, this young lady received her first ever ‘A’ in math.
Between them both, they have helped more than a dozen kids. Kids are smart. They know that Joyce and Doyle Crow, caring and committed adults are part of the secret to their growing success.
Joyce and Doyle Crow, we thank you for helping students stay in school and achieve in life.
Tags: Arcadia Elementary School, Carol Steiner, CIS, Communities In Schools of Kalamazoo, Doyle Crow, Jody Sikkema, Joyce Crow, Parkwood Upjohn Elementary School, volunteering
