An important element of Experience Corps is the team and corps concept.  In each of the schools we serve, the program is carried out by senior citizen volunteers working in teams.  A combination of all of the teams at each participating school form one total Corps (group), and efforts are made to cultivate identification with the mission and spirit of the larger unit. The senior citizen volunteers assist students one on one in mastering literacy and math skills necessary to succeed.  Volunteers assess literacy skill deficiencies; identify remediation needs and plan tutoring sessions for elementary school students referred to the tutoring program each school year. 

Volunteers encourage the development of a child’s self esteem and improve their attitudes about school and learning.  Experience Corps members are confident and assertive in advocacy roles and in their ability to accomplish the community activities chosen (parental involvement breakfasts, summer reading programs and volunteer recruitment) to increase the community’s awareness and involvement in education.

The focus of Experience Corps is to the experiences of older adults in service to schools and communities while enhancing the personal and community building skills of its members. The volunteers are encouraged to take the initiative and explore and implement solutions to challenges they see during their volunteer service. We commit to help elementary students improve reading skills by placing volunteers in local schools as tutors.  The program is based on the belief that men and women 55 years and older are vital to our community and that they can make a tangible difference in the academic success of the students and schools.The tutoring session, which generally last 25 – 45 minutes a day, aides in improving the pre-literacy, literacy and math skills of students each year.

Experience Corps volunteers have contributed measurable impact on the children of our community.  Our records indicate that throughout our years of service to the community, we have tutored more than 1,203 students in the elementary schools.  Our involvement has assisted in a significant increase of reading abilities on a yearly basis.