Graduate student Fechner Stecker offers the appearance of a gentle giant-at least to the antsy third-graders at Buffalo's School 6 who collect at his feet this December day seeking his help-and his approval. Stecker, an America Reads tutor, works slowly through the maze of children, entertaining questions-and even jabs.

"You talk too fast," scolds one girl, shaking her head, frustrated over a language exercise. He leans down to whisper a few words of encouragement, she fights a smile, but all is forgiven.

"He's really close with the kids," said third-grade teacher Joann Biggie, watching him from the hallway outside her classroom. "I see that they do need him."

Stecker, now in his second year tutoring at School 6, has the welcome habit of being accessible. He eats lunch with his pupils in their cafeteria and often stays past the time he's scheduled.

"Just his presence-he's making more than a contribution," said fifth-grade teacher Judy Lafonara, noting that particularly for the African-American males in her class-many of whom come from single-parent homes-"he's a very good example."

Stecker, who is studying urban planning in the School of Architecture and Planning, is one of several dozen UB tutors in the educational trenches helping children master reading skills. Serving 10 Buffalo and Amherst schools, as well as three after-school programs, UB's America Reads program is expanding, both in scope and size.

	Latoya Pouncey (right) tutors Monique Horton (left) and Denell Scott as part of the America Reads program.
	photo: Stephanie Hamberger

History

The goal of the America Reads Challenge, a 1996 Clinton Administration initiative, is for children to read independently by the end of third grade. The program-which maintains a presence in preschool through sixth-grade classrooms-receives financial support from the U.S. Department of Education, which employs college students through its work-study program.

Elfreda Blue, an assistant professor in Buffalo State College's Department of Elementary Education and Reading, came on as program coordinator in October 1999. With the number of tutors stagnant, she enlisted the help of UB's Financial Aid Office.

"I asked (Advisor Kevin Ryan) to start identifying work-study students who were eligible for our program," Blue said. "We grew, by the end of the year, to 70 (or) 80 students."

John Staley, associate vice president for the Office of Public Service and Urban Affairs, which houses America Reads, knows Blue was a rare find.

"The program has expanded under her to...double the number of students who are helping and the number of schools we're serving," said Staley. "That's why she's such a jewel. We were most fortunate to stumble upon Elfreda Blue."

Like retired principal Jacqueline Braswell-Woodbeck, who coordinated the program in its first two years, Blue boasts a strong background in education, having taught at the elementary and secondary levels, as well as at Brockport State College and Monroe Community College.

"I think it's so important for kids to have access (to the program)," says Blue, whose interest in teaching grew out of a desire to empower.

"I didn't have a problem with learning," she said, "(but) I had a lot of colleagues and friends and peers who were not able to do that."

She said she battled with the notion that "there's a code (of learning) that people are not getting," and was determined to crack that code.

Expectations

Blue, who earned a doctorate in special education at UB, said tutors must complete 12 hours of training, which cover such topics as forging positive relationships with pupils and teachers, and literacy trends.

"We're hoping that when they go (into the schools)...they can go right to work," Blue said.

The "trenches"

Senior Danielle Bullock said she sticks to one rule of thumb: "Encourage them to say they can be better."

The double major in psychology and African-American studies is one of 10 UB tutors who work at the after-school program in Buffalo's Bethesda Full Gospel church.

Once short of help, the Bethesda program-run by Buffalo special-education teacher Vicki Baxter-now is thriving.

"I shouted my shoes off," said Baxter, recalling her conversation with Blue about bringing in tutors. "It's been a blessing."

A mixed blessing for some-but rewarding nonetheless.

"It's hard at first," said Bullock of trying to engage almost 20 pupils, ranging in age from 5 to 16. "You get discouraged.

"Some students just bond right away," she explains, but "some don't like to tell you what they need-they're ashamed."

Struggles, however, aren't always rooted in academics.

Stecker-who divides his time among two fifth-grade classes and one third-grade class-says his greatest challenge is confronting children with fractured family lives.

"Some of the kids shuffle around" from parent to grandparent, home to home, he says. "They're absent a lot. When you finally start reaching (them)...they're not in the mode to pay attention. (School) is just passing time for them."

Still, "it's a fun experience," he says.

A read on the future

Beginning this semester, America Reads tutors will assist struggling first-graders through a reading-recovery program in the Buffalo schools. UB tutors will work with students to augment the reading support they receive at home.

America Reads tutors also participate in the after-school program at School 36, the Bilingual Early Childhood Center, which teaches both pupils and parents literacy strategies to employ at home.

But despite UB's "long arms," Blue says the number of helping hands never seems enough.

"We have so many places that are asking for tutors, and we just can't send them," she said, explaining that UB last year maxed out its allotment for work-study tutors, and most likely will this year, too.

Also stretched, Blue remains-like her tutors-committed.

"I want to know if (things they do) really make a difference," she says, noting that children must be motivated and engaged in order to thrive.

"Every day there's a challenge," says Blue. "(But) I feel like I'm making a contribution to somebody's child-they at least have an avenue for success."