Jacobs Chapel becomes 'the' I-STEP church

For the second year, Jacobs Chapel UMC in New Albany has opened their doors to the youth in the area to provide needed tutoring for the I-STEP test.

Passing the I-STEP is required for graduation from an Indiana high school. The church's ministry is designed to help, at no cost, students who are struggling with the math or language portions of the test as well as sophomores who will be taking the exam for the first time.

The Rev. Lynn Scherer-Berry who is co-pastor of Jacobs Chapel directs instruction. She is currently a licensed teacher in Indiana with experience in elementary education, special education and remediation instruction. Before entering full-time ministry, she was director of remediation for the Union County School Corporation where she trained and supervised six remediation instructors. She also wrote and published proprietary curriculum for I-STEP tutoring which, as the author, she is allowed to use.

Last year 100 percent of the sophomores tutored at Jacobs Chapel passed the test the first time. In the spring, a tutoring session was offered for junior and senior re-testers. Half of those passed the test, which is a very good average in the state. Scherer-Berry is quick to point out, however, that the teens that she tutors are usually more motivated than the average re-testers.

Besides the help that students receive from tutoring, parents are also being educated to become advocates for their students in regards to the I-STEP. Pastor Scherer-Berry is able to help determine if a student might need special help or accommodations in taking the test. Then the parents can go to the school and request additional help for their teens.

Because interest is becoming so great in the program, high school guidance counselors are beginning to generate lists of students that would benefit from the tutoring program. One of the high schools, Our Lady of Providence, has even offered to send teachers to help out. This would be a great plus because, at present, the Jacobs Chapel program can only handle about 12 students at a time.

When Lynn Scherer-Berry started this program, one of her goals was for her church to do something for the community that no other church was doing. She wants Jacobs Chapel to be known as the I-STEP church. At first, the ministry was seen by the church as something that their pastor was doing. Now that the interest has grown in the program, the whole church is really getting behind it, and they see the tutoring program as a source of pride for their congregation.

Scherer-Berry hopes this program will continue, even if she is moved.

Jennifer Hansen is the communications coordinator for the New Albany District.

Last updated on 01/14/2004

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