Cox new CIS staffer at Edgewood

By FULLER ROYAL

Tanya Cox loves working with people, especially children. She is the new Communities in Schools site coordinator at Edgewood Elementary School.

Cox, who has two daughters at Edgewood, spent much of her time last year volunteering with CIS at Whiteville Primary.

“When I was at Whiteville Primary (CIS Executive Director) Jenny Croft talked to me about VISTA and this position,” Cox said.

AmeriCorps VISTA is Volunteers in Service to America, which totally funds Cox’s position through a grant.

Cox said her primary duties would be to coordinate the efforts between students needing tutoring and the volunteers who will work with them.

Cox will train those volunteers and then work with teachers to place the volunteers where they can do the most good.

Cox said that reading tutors are in the greatest demand and while Edgewood has about 80 volunteers, the school could always use more.

Site coordinators also help procure donations of clothing and school supplies for students in emergencies. A child may have a need for fresh pants or a coat at school, or he or she might forget their school gear.

CIS also helps find prescription eyeglasses for students in need.

“We also need lunch buddies and reading buddies,” she said. “To just show a child that you care.”

Prior to becoming a stay-at-home mom, Cox said she had been a dispatcher with the county’s 911 center.

“I love the people, the staff, the volunteers and each and every child I come in contact with,” she said. “I feel like I’m making a difference.”

Cox, who began work Feb. 6, is married to Scotty Cox.

Anyone interested in becoming a volunteer with CIS-Whiteville can call 640-1039.