GARYSBURG — Two Valley-born educators want to help young people succeed in school.

Jacqueline Hough | Daily Herald Educators Marsha Johnson Haggins, left, and Deborah Harris Ivey have created the ‘ART’ in the 21 Century free tutorial reading program for students in grades third through eighth. Advertisement

Deborah Harris Ivery and Marsha Johnson Haggins have created ‘ART’ (Arithmetic-Reading-Technology) in the 21st Century to help provide an educational support service to help students in grades third- through eighth-grade focus on reading skills.

Ivery, a Northampton County native, has a bachelor’s from Fayetteville State University and a master’s in educational administration from the University of Cincinnati.

“We find when children don’t have the necessary skills that they tend not to be the ideal students,” Ivery said. “I want to do something to help them become better students.”

They created ART to help supplement the education being offered. The program will embrace a positive Attitude which will help to build strong Relationships that will promote fair and equitable Treatment for all.

“We were very purposeful in tying ART to ART,” Ivery said.

The SRA Corrective Reading Series will be used to reinforce classroom skills. The program is approved by the North Carolina State Department of Education and is aligned to state standards.

The program will be free for students. Schools that receive Title I funding are eligible for federal money for supplemental education. Transportation is not provided.

The program will be available to students in Northampton, Halifax, Nash and Hertford counties.

Ivery said she wants young students to realize that they aren’t going to always be in the school. “If you are unable to read, you are unable to function  and prohibits you from realizing all that you can be,” she said.

Haggins, who is from Halifax County, said based on recent end of grade scores the need is there.

“We are trying to respond to the need,” she said. “We felt like we had to give something back.”

She obtained her bachelor’s from Fayetteville State, a master’s in elementary education from North Carolina A & T State University and a master’s in educational administration from Gardner Webb. She taught in Forsyth County.

Haggins said both had fathers’ who died when they were younger and were raised by their mothers and others who made up their support system.

Ivery said, “We made it and given the right support system anyone can. Children don’t have to fail or not reach their potential because of their background.”

The program will focus on reading skills beginning with a tentative start date in October. It will be Tuesday, Wednesday from 3:30 to 5 p.m. until the end of the school year.

“We want to do the tutoring at the site of where the students attend school,” Ivery said.

Staff will work with students in small groups of five.

Haggins said she wants parents and others to know that it takes a village to raise a child. “Everyone going in the same direction to help students,” she said.

Ivery added that she wants the same energy and commitment to help a child to play football or being in the school band used to help make “A” students.

“We are letting parents know there are options out there,” Ivery said.

For more information about the program call 529-3121 or e-mail Ivery at dharrisivery@gmail.com or Haggins at majohnsonh@gmail.com.