It’s been many years since Becky Darst has been on the payroll at Northwest Elementary School, but she still impacts students every day.
Darst taught for a total of 34 years, with her last nine years working as a reading recovery teacher at Northwest.
She said she worked with at-risk first graders who needed help with their reading.
“I just saw a need for students to have extra one-on-one time,” she said.
In fall 2007, Reading Recovery was cut and Darst, who was planning on retiring at the end of the school year, had the option of returning to the classroom. Instead, she decided to retire instead of taking a position away from another teacher.
Darst then decided to continue working at Northwest, but this time as a volunteer, coordinating other volunteers to continue to help student with reading problems.
She said she wanted to “retire to something” instead of “retire from something.”
Darst said volunteers come in for one hour each week, usually between 8 to 9 a.m., and help reinforce what students are learning in the classroom.
“They go over basic sight words, listen to students read. There are some skills books we use, along with an accelerated reading program,” she said.
She said during the first few years, she mostly concentrated on first graders, but now has started working with second graders. She also hopes to begin working with more third grade students later in the school year.
She said recruiting help hasn’t been hard, with many people from her church, Saint Marys Episcopal, lending a hand.
“Once I had a few volunteers, other people would find out what we were doing and they would ask to come in,” she said.
Darst said reading is essential to student success.
“I just feel like, if students learn to be good readers they can accomplish anything they want to in life,” she said.
Teresa Singer, a music teacher at Northwest, said admires the work Darst has done for students.
“She’s so generous to give her time. She comes every Monday morning and sets up everything for volunteers and students. If it wasn’t for her, we wouldn’t have this kind of response for volunteers coming in to work with these students,” she said.
Darst said there are currently 22 volunteers, and she hopes to have more after the Christmas break.
She said she has no intention of stopping anytime soon.
“I will continue to do this, as long as the teachers want me. I think I’m fortunate to have good health and a lot of energy for my age,” she said.
Noah Clark can be reached at 252-559-1073 or oah.Clark@kinston.com. Follow him on Twitter @nclark763.