Foster Grandparent Carol Is a Role Model to First Graders at St. Cloud's All Saints Academy

Thank you to Cindy Bautch, who teachers first grade at All Saints Academy, St. Cloud, for sharing this story about Foster Grandparent Carol.

I have been fortunate enough to work with Grandma Carol for the past nine years. In that time she and I have grown very close. I see her not as just a Foster Grandparent volunteer, but a true friend and role model. Grandma Carol is always a professional and comes to school with a positive energy and genuine interest to help all the kiddos in my class succeed to the best of their abilities.

Grandma Carol gives countless extra hours of her time and energy to help make my job so much easier. I could not do all the activities that I plan in a day or week without the help of someone like Grandma Carol. When she is here, she pays full attention to each and every child who comes to sit next to her and work. She asks questions about what’s going on in their life, develops a great rapport, and lets those children know that she is 100 percent there to listen and help them be successful in school.

A perfect example of the report she builds with students is the current relationship she has with Jonathan. Jonathan is making the gains he has because he knows Grandma Carol is there to help him through thick and thin. She keeps him focused, she keeps him on task, she helps him finish work. . . .

I am so thankful that Grandma Carol is in my life and in the lives of all the students that she comes in contact with. She is a true blessing!

Grandma Carol shared that she and Jonathan were working together when Jonathan whispered to her a request: “Can we have a meeting?” Carol replied, “Absolutely. About what?” Jonathan responded, “What did you do this weekend?” Now Jonathan and Carol have weekly meetings to catch up.

The Foster Grandparent Program is always seeking volunteers 55+. If you or someone you know is looking to make a difference in the lives of children, please contact Sara Heurung, Program Director, at 320-229-4587 or sara.heurung@ccstcloud.org.