Gayle Zeiter Literacy Development Center Provides Support for Community Children

Gayle A. Zeiter '85, '88, earned a master's degree in education at UNLV and worked as a teacher in the Clark County School District. Although she passed away in 2002, her influence as an educator lives on.

As a result of a donation provided by her husband, real estate developer Jim Zeiter '87 Finance, the Literacy Development Center is providing an important service to the Las Vegas community.

The Gayle Zeiter Literacy Development Center on the UNLV campus provides one-on-one tutoring for students in the Las Vegas Valley.  Sue Hendricks, director of the center and a faculty member in the College of Education, has been working with the program for four years.

About 50 students, from kindergarten to eighth grade, come to the center each semester – fall, spring, and summer. UNLV students who are seniors or graduate students in elementary education serve as tutors as part of their coursework to be teachers of reading. This one-on-one tutoring helps these striving readers improve their competency in reading. 

The center, located in the Carlson Education Building, has been refurbished thanks in part to this private support. Children's books are sorted by reading level and are used by the UNLV tutors during each session.  The children are also able to check out two or three books to take home and practice reading. 

"The kids really like it because they can pick it out on their own with a little guidance from the UNLV tutor," said Tina Guard, a graduate assistant working with the center.

The children come from all parts of the Las Vegas Valley, and participate in ten sessions throughout the semester. Their parents or guardians bring them to campus for tutoring, and meet after the session with the tutor to review the child's progress and learn tips for practicing at home.

"In addition to the literacy education, it also exposes the children and their parents to the college environment," said Guard.  "Hopefully they'll feel more comfortable with the campus and college as they get older and think about pursing higher education."

The UNLV students also see benefits from the program. Although it's not exactly like the classroom setting, Hendricks says it does provide valuable experience.  The students prepare lesson plans for each of the ten tutoring sessions during the semester and work through each with the children.

"The UNLV students get to see how the kids react to their instruction," said Hendricks. "They can modify their teaching for the students and see progress over the sessions."

Part of Zeiter's gift will also fund professional development programs, which will allow teachers and doctoral students to attend conferences on literacy. Several well-known children's authors have already come to campus to present information about literacy for children, how students learn, and what they like to read.  These programs provide valuable information for the students and teachers, who are then able to bring that knowledge to their work in the classroom.