Oxford's Kimberly Vitka Helps Children Through Program

Eastern Student Kimberly Vitka of Oxford Supports Windham Children through 'Jumpstart' Program

WILLIMANTIC, CT -- Several Eastern Connecticut State University students are volunteering with local preschool children through Jumpstart, an AmeriCorps program that supports the language and social skills of children from low-income areas.

Among the Eastern volunteers is Kimberly Vitka '21 of Oxford, who majors in Pre-Elementary Education and Liberal Studies.

"I've always had a passion for teaching kids," Vitka said. "During my freshman year at Eastern, I did a lot of volunteering at different elementary schools in and around Willimantic, and then I heard about Jumpstart."

Vitka, eager to earn teaching experience, soon found Jumpstart to be the rewarding experience she was looking for. " A lot of our own time is spent planning and creating things based on the curriculum for the children we teach," Vitka said. "When we're in the classroom, we're placed into groups of 2-4 kids and are responsible for teaching them the session plan for that week."

Vitka's experience in Jumpstart has greatly enthused her passion for teaching and helping children.

"Seeing their little faces light up as soon as they see my team and me has been the reason I want to continue to teach. The more time I spend around children, the more passionate I become about my job now and job in the future," Vitka concluded. "Being responsible for childrens' futures is stressful at times, but it is worth it when you realize that you are paving the way for them to grow into bright, beautiful human beings, and you have the power to change so many lives."

Eastern students who apply for Jumpstart are interviewed and then divided into teams that work together in local classrooms. Every team follows an assigned curriculum and designs stimulating activities to engage the children.

Jumpstart recruits and trains college students and AmeriCorps members to serve preschool children in low-income neighborhoods. Children who grow up in under-resourced communities often enter kindergarten 60 percent behind their peers from more affluent areas, a statistic which Jumpstart hopes to correct.

By providing language, literacy and social-emotional activities, Jumpstart ensures that preschoolers get an equal start in life regardless of zip code.