Gramma Jan | Video

J.R. Havens | 10/31/2012

Author and educator William Arthur Ward once said: "The mediocre teacher tells, the good teacher explains, the superior teacher demonstrates, the great teacher inspires." One lady at Centennial Elementary in Bismarck is doing just that, and she`s not even a licensed teacher.

For the past eight years, four days a week Janice Braun comes into Centennial Elementary school in Bismarck and does her best to teach the children of our future.

"I help them with their math, read to them, play games," she said.

Braun is no ordinary teacher, she`s one of about 20 enrolled in the RSVP program as foster grandparent tutor.

"I`m glad I checked into it cause I love the job. Just to see kids improving and they always give me hugs every day and right now I`m working with a kindergartner who can`t write his name and doesn`t know his colors so I`m working with him on that and now he does know how to write his name, so that`s rewarding and I just love working with the kids."

And the students and faculty love her just as much.

"She is very patient it`s neat to watch, she will re-read, and explain what that word means," said third grade teacher Gretchen Feininger.

Braun doesn`t even have any children of her own.

"It gives her an opportunity to do this, that`s why this program is great, I love it," said Feininger.

They call her Gramma Jan and she`s allowing kids to grasp standards at a quicker pace.

"I`ve given her a very simple set of instructions and she just kind of took off with it and I think that tells me this woman definitely has a gift with children," said Feininger.

Braun crunched a few numbers herself and figured out she now has over 400 grand kids.

For more information on the foster grandparent program you can contact the RSVP Plus office at 701-258-5449 or visit www.rsvpnd.org.

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