Episode Details

For more than a decade, the STEP Ladder Tutoring Program has been helping middle school students in Kewanee and Wethersfield strengthen their academic skills, build confidence, and prepare for success in high school.

During a recent interview on Wake Up Tri-Counties, Etta LaFlora, Executive Director of the Sunshine Community Services Center, discussed the program's history and its continued importance to local students.

The STEP Ladder program began with a simple observation. A friend of LaFlora's who was teaching at Black Hawk College noticed students struggling academically and wondered when those difficulties began. That conversation led to the creation of a tutoring program focused on middle school students.

After a pilot program at the Kewanee Public Library in 2011 showed positive results through pre- and post-testing, the program expanded into the schools in 2012. Since then, STEP Ladder has served 242 middle school students and involved 82 volunteers, AmeriCorps members, and staff.

The program's motto is “Helping One Child at a Time.” LaFlora said the goal is to make every student feel important while providing individualized or small-group assistance.

STEP Ladder helps students with:

• Completing homework
• Preparing for tests and quizzes
• Mastering core academic skills
• Developing better study habits
• Learning how to take notes and stay organized
• Building a more positive attitude toward school and learning

LaFlora said middle school is a particularly important time to provide this support. Students are navigating significant academic, social, and emotional changes while preparing for the transition to high school.

The program serves students after they complete sixth grade and continue through eighth grade, including the summer before they enter high school. A summer program is held at the Kewanee Public Library.

Funding the program has become increasingly challenging as community needs have grown. Sunshine Community Services Center has relied on donations, grants, and support from organizations including Rotary, Kiwanis, and United Way. Schools also contribute by providing space, while Central School provides transportation.

The organization has shifted from some of its traditional fundraising efforts to online fundraising. Donations can be made through the Sunshine Community Services Center website at www.sunshinecsc.com, through an upcoming GoFundMe campaign, or by mail to P.O. Box 405, Kewanee, IL 61443.

LaFlora emphasized that every donation helps provide free tutoring, healthy snacks, and learning supplies for local students.

The program also continues to benefit from community volunteers. Anyone interested in volunteering can contact Sunshine Community Services Center at 309-853-7751. Volunteers must complete the required school background check and fingerprinting process.

One of the most rewarding aspects of STEP Ladder has been seeing former students return to give back. LaFlora recalled students who participated in the program when they were younger and later returned to serve as tutors themselves.

Beyond tutoring, Sunshine Community Services Center also participates in community programs, including Black History programming, Martin Luther King Jr. activities, and community events. AmeriCorps members also assist with tutoring at Black Hawk College, including helping GED and ESL students.

The STEP Ladder Tutoring Program is scheduled to begin its new school-year session on Tuesday, September 8th. LaFlora said the ultimate goal remains straightforward: helping local students develop the skills and confidence they need to successfully make it through school and into high school.

Families interested in enrolling a student, community members interested in volunteering, or individuals wishing to support the pr