2018 Hazel Park Schools Communicator : Hazel Park Literacy Project
TUCKED INTO A LARGE DEDICATED CLASSROOM in Hazel Park High School is a small, powerful organization new to the building this year. Established in January of 2018, the Hazel Park Literacy Project is focused on providing supplemental professional assistance to students who are reading below their grade level.
Garden Fresh Gourmet founders, Jack and Annette Aronson, established the Ferndale Literacy Project in the Fall of 2016, and armed with remarkable results, set about replicating the project for Hazel Park where a large percentage of their student body is from other parts of the Metro Detroit area. The Aronson’s bigger vision includes bringing their literacy project to the entire Metro Detroit area.
“Literacy in this country is an enormous problem. As a nation, we have been struggling so much,” Jack laments. “We used to have people come into Garden Fresh in Ferndale who couldn’t fill out an application.”
That stuck with Jack. “Our literacy project reading models work, and work quickly,” he shares. “If we don’t get busy and fix this, all those great jobs now becoming available in Detroit will not go to the Detroit kids. Detroit kids will be serving popcorn at Little Caesar’s Arena.”
The growth of the students in the High School Literacy Project has been inspiring for everyone involved. They are not just learning to read, but are adding to their vocabulary, which will impact their careers, their upward mobility, and the educational trajectory of their own children. Dr Amy Kruppe stated, “ What an amazing gift the Jack and his wife are giving to communities as they develop these literacy projects. There is no better gift than the gift of reading and education.“
“The literacy model we use is very easy for students and organizations to follow,” Jack says. “It is pretty fixed. We are trying to perfect it to eventually take the program to Detroit high schools.”
A little over 50 students are enrolled in Hazel Park High School’s Literacy Project’s inaugural half year. They are looking to increase enrollment in the fall of 2018, and can take as many as possibly 100 students. Carol Jackson is the Operations Manager and handles the behind-the-scenes details of the literacy projects for the Aronsons.
“Leasing the Read 180 software program the first year and the Reading Specialist Teacher salaries are the two biggest expenses,” Jackson explains.
“Hazel Park Literacy Project will be getting new desks, chairs, books and supplies as well as a fresh coat of paint.”
So far, everything for the Literacy Project is paid for by Jack and Annette Aronson, who have demonstrated that they are on a mission to make a dent in the 47 percent illiteracy rate in the Metro Detroit area. Not a dime is charged to the school, and all funds that are raised for the project through events are channeled directly to the Hazel Park Public Schools, and ear tagged specifically for the Hazel Park Literacy Project.
“All money transactions for the program are transparent,” says Jackson. The state doesn’t pay for a reading specialist at the high school level, so that expense falls to the Literacy Project. Kyle Rowley is the project’s Reading Specialist Teacher for Hazel Park. A football coach and enthusiastic school supporter, Rowley has a warm rapport with the students. Superintendent of Hazel Park Schools, Dr. Amy Kruppe, and Matt Dailey, principle of Hazel Park High School have been very supportive of the new Literacy Project, as well.
Rowley picked out a large computer room in the high school to be used for the literacy room. The space has two smaller suites attached to it that will be designated as a reading room, Kyle’s office, and possibly a coffee/hot chocolate lounge for the literacy students. This summer will be spent getting the literacy rooms finished. They will be working on painting the walls, and ordering new desks and chairs. There is talk about the possibility of a summer reading program, as well.
“The Aronsons are working hard to reach and help as many children as they can,” Jackson says. “While other programs are addressing the literacy problems with younger children, this one is designed to find the older ones and get them back on track and reading at grade level.”
Jack and Annette Aronson are very hands-on with this project and can be found purchasing lunch for the students in the Hazel Park Literacy Project several months of the year. They stay and have lunch with the students to check in and see how individuals are progressing. The Aronsons show up with submarine sandwiches, pizza, water and other healthy foods for the kids, who have been very appreciative of their generosity.
Donations of any size are needed for this ongoing worthy project and to help it expand into the Detroit schools. Contact Carol Jackson at cjackson0205@gmail.com, or at 586-747-1394.
