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Fairview Marguerite Elementary School held its Reading Buddies recognition luncheon to reflect on the year of helping students with their reading.

This new program was created by Superintendent of Hamblen County School Arnold Bunch and is designed for members of the community to come in and read with students every week for the entire school year.

Bunch recognized the need for improving students reading literacy as he entered his job in July of last year.

“When I got into the job, I looked at programs in the surrounding counties that worked to improve reading literacy,” Bunch said. “Bristol has a reading buddies program that they have been doing for several years.

“With its program they invite community members to read to kids 30 minutes every week and I thought we should adopt that in our district.”

After receiving approval from Fairview’s Principal Eric Langhans, the program began selecting students and also volunteers from Buffalo Trail Baptist Church.

“I approached Principal Langhans about the interest in the program and he was very excited to join in on the program,” Bunch said. “The principals and the teachers chose the students to be a part of the program and the community members went through a very thorough background check.

In Bunch’s eyes, the goal of the program is not just to improve student’s reading ability, but also connect them with mentors to help them grow.

“Our goal is to read to these children to improve their reading literacy but also they will gain more confidence in their reading ability,” Bunch said. “We hope that these relationships they’ve made with their reading buddies will last throughout their time in the district so they can learn and grow from these community members.”

As Bunch reflects on the success of the program he is also working to grow it at different schools within the district.

“While we didn’t have a huge number, overall I believe it was a success,” Bunch said. “How I knew it was a success was when the principal told me that several students would come up to him and ask him if their reading buddy was coming in today.

“The next school we will implement this program at Witt Elementary School and then we will begin adding more schools to the program.”

Langhans has great appreciation towards the volunteers who have offered their time to these students throughout the school year.

“I just want to thank you all for everything you have done this year and the impact you have had on these kids,” he said. “We need people like you in the world. We need people who are willing to come to our schools and work with our students.

“What a tremendous partnership this has been between your church and our school. I cannot express how thankful I am for you all.”

Langhans expressed how these mentorship will help these students as they grow and progress throughout life.

“I know these students are better readers and will be better citizens because of what you all did. They may not realize right now but they will in the future when they look back on these moments,” he said. “I told one of them that when they get older they will hopefully come back and be someone’s reading buddy.

“You guys have made a difference with your buddies but made a difference in this entire building.”

Buddy Smith, assistant superintendent for instruction, emphasized the positive effect this program will have on students.

“The more role models we have the better,” he said. “The more positive influences we have on these kids the better citizens and adults they’ll be.

“You just haven’t helped these students become better readers, you have also helped them be better people and have become role models in their lives and we are all thankful for that.”