Reading tutor helped 20 Emerson Hough students attain proficiencies

Emerson Hough Elementary School brought 20 students out of low proficiency ratings in reading last year, which instructional coach Brittany Vail said is the most the state — and even the nation — had seen from the Reading Corps Program during the 2024-25 school year.

In a presentation to the Newton School Board on Sept. 22, Vail explained that in addition to serving Emerson Hough she is also the internal coach for Reading Corps, an AmeriCorps program that provides tutors to districts for high-impact reading interventions for students in kindergarten through third grade.

Newton Community School District utilizes one tutor per elementary building, and that tutor serves approximately 28 students per day.

The tutor served a total of about 50 students last school year.

Depending on the grade level, the Reading Corps Program utilizes different types of interventions, such as sound awareness, blending words, duet reading, connected text and repeated reading. Interventions like these led Emerson Hough to successfully graduate 20 students from the program last year.

“Which means we took them from reading below grade level to above … by the end of the year and maintain that,” Vail said. “We first learned this was the best student data in the state, ranging from both our exit criteria but also just the growth that other students were making as well.”

It was later discovered at the beginning of the 2025-26 school year that the data from Emerson Hough was the best in the nation last year, which Vail called “quite an honor.” Reading Corps currently only serves 10 states. Vail was proud of the accomplishment.

“We were then able to host a representative from Sen. Joni Ernst’s office,” she said. “He visited with us in a group of partners last year, and we were able to advocate the importance of Reading Corps and promote our advocacy for continuing to fund Reading Corps.”

Vail complimented tutor David Beshey for his efforts tutoring students at Emerson Hough. She also noted Beshey spends 20 minutes a day with each student.

“That’s impressive when you think about how little time that is and how big a difference it can make,” said school board member Josh Cantu.

Vail said Emerson Hough likes to serve as many students as it can and often places them in pairs to double up on the impact. Research shows that also works well for the students, too. Vail said they feel empowered and encouraged by the other student to work together as a team.

Principal Tara Zehr gave props to Vail later into the school board meeting, saying her coaching, leadership and organization has been vital. Vail said it is a team effort to ensure the Reading Corps Program is getting the results that students, parents and teachers want. Teachers very much support the program.

“It’s also thanks to the hard work of every teacher in the building and all the staff encouraging students, and the partnership with Reading Corps,” Vail said.