Western Michigan University receives award from Boys & Girls Club of Greater Kalamazoo

Western Michigan University’s Department of Special Education and Literary Studies has received recognition from the Boys & Girls Club of Greater Kalamazoo in the form of the Outstanding Community Partner Award. The Department of Special Education and Literary Studies has been collaborating with the Boys & Girls Club of Greater Kalamazoo since 2019, when the department established its Pathway Tutoring program, which gave kids from the Boys  Girls Club the opportunity to receive individualized tutoring from teaching students at the university.

According to an article on Western Michigan University’s website, Dr. Kate LaLonde, who serves as an associate professor of special education, was quoted as saying of the award, "I've truly enjoyed working with the Boys & Girls Club of Greater Kalamazoo since we launched this collaboration in 2019. Over the years, we've navigated challenges, adapted to changes, and had people come and go, yet the partnership has remained strong. This award is a meaningful recognition of our collective efforts, and it’s motivating to know that the value of this collaboration is equally appreciated by both organizations."

The Pathway Tutoring program is beneficial for both children in the Boys & Girls Club of Greater Kalamazoo, who receive one-on-one attention to help develop their reading skills, and for the teacher candidates at Western Michigan University, who are able to use the tools and resources at their disposal to provide meaningful services and education opportunities to children whose literacy skills need improvement. 

The tutors in the program travel to different after-school sites to provide tutoring to kids, and help them learn to read and write. According to LaLonde, the program has seen success. She said, "The most recent data analysis indicated that children in kindergarten, first and second grade demonstrated significant growth in their foundational reading skills. Notably, kindergarteners exhibited a higher-than-expected rate of improvement over the course of the semester, surpassing the typical trajectory for this grade level.”

For more information about Western Michigan University, visit the school’s website.