Founder of TPS program up for award

Literacy tutoring in national spotlight

Jay Mirrow, Jefferson Award winner from Toledo, is in Washington etc etc to fill out the sidesaddle cutline to the allotted depth with info from the story.

The founder of a tutoring and mentoring program in Toledo Public Schools is being recognized with a national award.

Jay Mirrow of Toledo was in Washington on Monday to represent the region at the national Jefferson Awards. The prestigious awards named for former President Thomas Jefferson honors volunteerism.

Mr. Mirrow, who was chosen to attend the event from a pool of four regional winners, may depart with additional accolades. Of the local volunteers selected to attend the national event, five will receive the Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis Award, which acknowledges exemplary levels of service. Those five winners will stand alongside recipients of the four other major Jefferson Awards, who tend to be figures of more national renown.

The ceremony consists of three days of celebration, said Brady Tanner, national director for the group. The prize named for the former first lady will be awarded Tuesday and Wednesday evenings.

Mr. Mirrow’s program Mentors in TPS was started to promote literacy by pairing trained tutors with students at McKinley Elementary School. It later expanded to include other elementary schools.

In addition to Mr. Mirrow, several young people from the area have flown to Washington for the event. According to school community liaison Kristina White, Springfield Local students Nate Dusseau and Mackenzie Cupp were chosen to attend after their high school was named a national ambassador for the awards. White, who traveled with the pair, said the students delivered a speech to attendees Monday evening.

Six Maumee students are representing their school as well. The Maumee High School Interact program, a Rotary-sponsored group, won a “gold banner” award.

After the awards, Springfield students will meet up with World War II veterans from the northwest Ohio chapter of Honor Flight.