Minnesota
AmeriCorps seeks more tutors as Minnesota children fall behind in reading and math
WILLMAR
— Janessa Rodriguez was fresh out of high school in 2023, with no idea what her next steps would be.
Searching on the Indeed jobs website, she found an AmeriCorps math tutoring job at Roosevelt Elementary School in Willmar, a school that she attended.
“I struggled with math too, so I understood what these kiddos were going through,” Rodriguez said. “I didn’t think I’d be good at it, but it was one of the best decisions I’ve ever made.”
Tutors like Rodriguez help kids work on their math or reading skills individually or in small groups, a more personal approach to learning that AmeriCorps utilizes in schools across Minnesota.
The AmeriCorps tutoring program in Minnesota started with Reading Corps in 2003 and expanded with Math Corps in 2008. The organization’s goal is to get kids in grades K-3 to achieve grade-level proficiency in reading and math. However, according to AmeriCorps, fewer than a third of Minnesota students are doing so.
That’s why the organization is looking for 900 tutors across Minnesota for the upcoming school year, including in Willmar, Paynesville and Atwater-Cosmos-Grove City schools.
“Ever since the pandemic, students have fallen behind in these areas,” said Laura Isdahl, senior manager at Reading Corps. “That’s why the need for these positions have grown.”
That’s why a more personal approach to early learning could be a solution, according to the director of Minnesota programs Christine Fankhanel.
“When students work with a tutor, incredible things happen,” said Fankhanel in a news release. “They often make more than a year’s progress during the school year.”
Rodriguez can attest to that.
“One of the most rewarding things about this job is that light bulb moment when a kid understands a concept that they’re struggling with,” Rodriguez said. “And to not only build relationships with the kiddos, but the staff as well, it’s very rewarding.”
Rodriguez is now going to Ridgewater College, receiving tuition assistance from AmeriCorps. Tutoring, however, is not just for high school graduates or college students.
Isdahl said about two-thirds of tutors are retirees or parents who want to get back into the workforce. They also have flexible hours, with the choice of working 18, 25 or 35 hours a week, with a stipend every two weeks that is equivalent to about $15 an hour.
Isdahl also said that there is training for tutors before their positions start to ensure they feel prepared.
“I’d highly recommend it, especially for college students,” said Rodriguez. “But it’s really for anybody who wants to work with kids.”
AmeriCorps directs those interested in a position to go online for more information at
join.readingandmath.org
.
Taiyon Coleman has been writing since she was a child. At age eight, she announced to her family that a novel was in the works.
Today, she’s a published author and a professor of literature at St. Catherine University. But the road from there to here wasn’t as straight-forward as you might think.
Coleman joins host Kerri Miller on Big Books and Bold Ideas this week to talk about what happened in the in-between. Some of it is detailed in her new collection of personal essays, “Traveling without Moving: Essays from a Black Woman Trying to Survive in America.”
But the deeper story is held in Coleman’s body, in her voice, in her strength. Don’t miss this vulnerable and moving conversation about mothers and ancestors, writing and truth-telling and the power of being a teacher.
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Minnesota
Valleyfair theme park to close for unprecedented Minnesota flooding, not offering refunds to guests
Valleyfair theme park in Minnesota is not offering refunds despite closing down three rides and the entirety of its parking options due to flooding.
The amusement park, located between the Minnesota River and Blue Lake, flooded in areas below “the crest” according to a release from Valleyfair.
On an FAQ page, Valleyfair states that “Projections show that the Minnesota River will crest on Saturday, June 29. We do not yet know how long it will take for the river to recede to normal levels as that depends on the weather.”
BEAR EUTHANIZED AFTER INJURING TENNESSEE THEME PARK CONCESSION STAND EMPLOYEE
Popular rides Excalibur, Thunder Canyon and Renegade are impacted by the flooding and are closed. Additionally, almost the entirety of on-site parking has been flooded.
Buses will be provided free of charge by Valleyfair for guests from the Canterbury Overflow Lot, Eagle Creek Park and Ride, and Southbridge Crossing Park and Ride.
A rollercoaster at Valleyfair amusement park in Minnesota is underwater after heavy flooding across the midwest. (Valleyfair)
Operating hours have been changed from 10:00am to 9:00 pm until further notice, and a “temporary gate entrance” is in use. Re-entries to the park are highly discouraged.
Per Valleyfair’s FAQ page, “There will be no re-entry during the flood-impacted days for all guests, including season passholders, due to the very limited space and capacity at the temporary park entrance.”
Valleyfair amusement park in Minnesota is not offering refunds to guests due to flooding from heavy rainfall. (KMSP)
A Fourth of July fireworks show slated for next week has also been rescheduled for “later this season,” with no official scheduled date as yet.
Refunds are not being offered by Valleyfair amusement park at this time, given their weather impact policy: “Valleyfair does not offer refunds for tickets impacted by weather, unless the guest selected the Ticket Insurance option.”
“We do, however, offer guests the opportunity to choose another similarly priced date should they wish to move their visit to another day by using our Guest Portal,” the statement reads.
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Valleyfair did not immediately respond to Fox News Digital’s request for comment.
ROSEVILLE — A lottery player in Baxter is Minnesota’s newest multi-millionaire.
A ticket worth $2,045,590 was sold at Orton’s Baxter Holiday, 5610 Fairview Road, for the Wednesday, June 26, Gopher 5 drawing. The win earns the store a $5,000 bonus.
The winning Gopher 5 numbers drawn on June 26 are 16-29-35-43-46.
The previous Gopher 5 record was $2,032,201 and won on a ticket purchased at Steve’s Corner in St. James on Nov. 8, 2005. The prize was claimed by a group of 22 co-workers from the Watonwan County Highway Department/Public Works Department.
The prize must be claimed at Minnesota Lottery headquarters in Roseville. It is recommended that winners
call ahead to check hours and to make an appointment
.
Unless the winner chooses to opt in to publicity, their name and city will not be released. As of Sept. 1, 2021, the names and cities of lottery prize winners above $10,000 are private data.
Gopher 5 is a Minnesota-only lotto game. Each ticket costs $1 to play. Jackpots start at $100,000 and grow until won. The overall odds to win a Gopher 5 jackpot are 1 in 1,533,939. Drawings take place every Monday, Wednesday and Friday. Tickets must be purchased by 6:10 p.m. on drawing days.
Visit
www.mnlottery.com
for more information and official rules.
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