Thomas Glenn, a junior at Beloit College double majoring in Education and Youth Studies and Spanish, first heard about the Stateline Literacy Council from his course with Spanish professor Sylvia Lopez. The class featured community-based learning projects through which Thomas became acquainted with a variety of organizations throughout the Beloit community. He began volunteering at the Stateline Literacy Council shortly after. He connected with Ann Ward, the executive director of the Stateline Literacy Council, who allowed him to teach a beginning English class after he expressed interest in a teaching career.

Professor Lopez saw how much Thomas enjoyed his volunteer work and saw the positive impact he was having on the community. She recommended that he continue that work in a Community Connections class, Community & Civic Engagement, taught by Suzanne Goebel.

Sylvia and Suzanne’s support throughout this time was instrumental for Thomas. It gave him the opportunity to improve upon existing professional skills as well as develop new ones. In particular, his engagement in Community Connections courses allowed him to work on communication skills in both English and Spanish, relationship-building skills, and overall adaptability in the workplace. When teaching the beginning English class, he learned to be creative and find new ways to explain difficult concepts. He adjusted his teaching methods to cater to the needs of each student to ensure that everybody had the chance to excel in his class.

Thomas’ enthusiasm for education was supported by Ann Ward’s guidance last fall. Ann began her career internationally. When she returned to the United States, she turned to teaching to address some of the divisions she had noticed. Her experience abroad has helped her connect with the diverse populations in the Statline area.

Ann hopes her experience will inspire other students, like Thomas, to pursue careers in education. When Thomas first started at Beloit, he didn’t know he wanted to pursue a teaching career. By the end of his sophomore year, he had begun to seriously consider the idea. Working at the Stateline Literacy Council allowed him to gain experience as an educator. Teaching the small English class helped him gain confidence in pursuing education as a career. He plans to be an English as a Second Language (ESL) teacher after graduation.

Ann Ward notes that careers in education are imperative for young people to pursue. Through a career in education, they will contribute to the next generations. The United States has been losing teachers at an alarming rate, particularly so in rural areas. Many schools lack the funding to hire qualified educators, so the country needs, now, more than ever, qualified and committed teachers to help build up the school system from within.

Thomas recommends PRAX 286: Community & Civic Engagement to other students who are interested in community-based learning and becoming more acquainted with the Beloit community. Beloit offers Community Connections classes that focus on gaining experiences within communities. There is a large variety of PRAX classes available to interested students, including classes in conjunction with internships and the Community Fellows program. Thomas suggests that applicants to such programs have strong problem-solving skills and be willing to step outside of their comfort zones.

Other Beloit students can get involved with the Stateline Literacy Council by contacting Ann Ward (ward@slcbeloit.org). She is looking for students to help with basic computer training this summer. Also available are tutoring positions and roles to manage databases and filing systems in the office. Ann would also love a student to help with community outreach and a social media presence to spread the word about the life changing services they offer.

For students interested in other community-based learning opportunities, Community and Civic Engagement will be offered in the fall of 2025. Students passionate about making a difference in Beloit through a classroom setting can contact Suzanne Goebel (goebels@beloit.edu) with questions.