The Votes Are In!
2023 Readers' Choice is back, bigger and better than ever!
View Winners → 
Monrovia Reads Honors “Duke” Freyermuth
Education Mar 09, 2016
by
share with
Mr. Freyermuth has volunteered thousands of hours to the Monrovia Reads program. – Courtesy Photo
At its annual So All May Read fundraising dinner, Monrovia Reads honored “Duke” Freyermuth with its Literacy Legacy Award. He has coordinated the Pro Active Tutoring (PAT) Program in the Monrovia schools for more than 15 years, first as a counselor at Clifton Middle School and now as a volunteer in his retirement.
It all started with a failed grant request. The grant had been intended to help students at the middle schools who needed a little help. Joanne Spring, then the president of Monrovia Reads, and Joel Shawn, at that time an assistant superintendent with the Monrovia School District, looked to see what could be done of the proposed projects without funds. The idea of using volunteers as tutors was proposed. Duke went to the Maryknoll Sisters to ask for help and the first group of five nuns started tutoring students at Clifton. Eventually additional nuns were enlisted to help at Santa Fe Middle School and the PAT program began in earnest with a total of ten nuns, 2 Citrus College students and two adult volunteers.
Perhaps failing to receive that grant money was a positive thing. The program necessity engendered has grown. Now with funding from several sources including Monrovia Reads, there are paid college age tutors from several local colleges including Pasadena City College and Citrus Community College. There are also dozens of volunteer peer counselors from the Advanced Placement programs at Monrovia High School and even 8th grade volunteers who help with the younger students at the Middle Schools. Tutoring takes place at the after school village programs at the elementary schools as well.
And “Duke” has been the chief organizer and cheerleader for the program. He literally donates thousands of hours a year to the program. And it was for this tireless work that Monrovia Reads honored him with its Literacy Legacy Award this year.
As Dr. Sue Kaiser of the Monrovia Unified School District said in presenting the award “Duke’s vision has become a great reality here in Monrovia and through his dedication, his service, and his acts of kindness, students are learning more and reading more in Monrovia. He has been a true force in making sure that Monrovia does READ.”
Monrovia Reads is a non-profit organization dedicated to creating a community that is 100% literate. It promotes reading and supports the PAT program as well as the Monrovia Reads and Plays van. The group also distributes thousands of books every year to children in the community.
