Seniors assist students

It's that "aha" moment, that sudden realization of clarity a child feels when they've learned a something new that Paul Stradley says inspires him as an educator.

Stradley may have retired but he's never stopped teaching and his daily visits to Valencia Elementary School as a foster grandparent continue to put him in his natural habitat.

Christina Calloway: Portales News-Tribune

Foster Grandparent Program Director Monica Cano, left, shares a laugh with two of her volunteers, Micaela Quintero, center, and Paul Stradley, about the joys they receive from serving the local community through working with children.

Stradley is one of 13 volunteers in the Community Services Center's Foster Grandparent Program, which places senior volunteers in local schools to assist students, especially those with at-risk and with special needs.

According to program Director Monica Cano, the program has been around for 31 years. Cano works with school administration and staff to coordinate the best use of her volunteers as they work with the school's curriculum.

Stradley had experience as a small school principal in Colorado prior to moving to Portales. He works directly with fourth grade students because he says that is the age where reading skills are most critical.

"It's my way of giving back to the community," Stradley said.

Micaela Quintero of Portales, a former Eastern New Mexico University employee, has had years of experience being a grandparent, which made it easy for her to dedicate 12 years to the program. Quintero has 14 grandchildren and four great-grandchildren.

"Everybody's screaming grandma," Quintero said, describing a typical day at Portales' Early Head Start, where she works with toddlers.

Quintero says she enjoys feeding, rocking and playing with the babies she works with.

"I'm retired from my job, I like what I get to do now," Quintero said.

Under the teacher's instruction, Stradley said he loves to challenge students with critical thinking exercises and is happy to serve as another adult figure in their lives.

"They get a smile when it suddenly hits them," Stradley said, describing what happens when a student grasps a concept. "That's what I do it for."

Stradley and Quintero hope to recruit more Portales senior citizens to participate in the program.

"It's very rewarding for adults and especially the children," Quintero said.

Cano says the program has been successful for schools and they have received great feedback from both teachers and students but they're in need of more volunteers.

"You see just the excitement of the children with a grandparent in the classroom," Cano said. "It represents love. It just brightens up their day."

Cano added that she's received tons of letters over the years from teachers who express their appreciation for the foster grandparents.

Cano says qualifying volunteers receive a stipend of $2.65 an hour and also receive assistance with mileage, meals and supplemental accident and liability insurance while on duty.

"This program and the volunteers are an asset to our schools," Cano said. "Children receive much needed one-on-one attention they may not be able to receive in the classroom and foster grandparents remain active and engaged with the knowledge that they are making a difference."