VIDALIA — Ann Cowan, 68, loves helping children learn to read.

However, Cowan is not a teacher. She’s a member of the CENLA Area Agency on Aging’s foster grandparent program for the Concordia Parish School District.

The program invites seniors 55 and up to assist students in the classroom and act as mentors.

“They normally help with reading, writing math, things like that,” Amanda Prowse, its program director, said.

The foster grandparents assist students in Ferriday Lower Elementary and Vidalia Lower Elementary in the Concordia Parish School District during the school year

“We’re able to get extra sets of eyes and ears to work with children,” Concordia Parish School District Superintendent Paul Nelson said.

Cowan said she read about the program in the newspaper last year. She was thinking about it when Vidalia Lower Elementary’s former principal and current Vidalia High School principal Charles Anderson approached her, while she was helping her daughter, Janice Coleman, set up her second grade classroom.

Anderson told her she would be good for the program, and she decided to try it.

“I just enjoy being around kids,” Cowan said.

Seniors who apply for the program are given a physical and background check and a TB test. Once seniors have been admitted, they go through a monthly in-service to help them interact and relate to children better.

Soon, Cowan became a common and welcome sight, for Vidalia Lower’s first and second graders.

“They’ve even got to where they call me Grandma Cowan,” Cowan said.

In return for their work, the program pays foster grandparents $2.65 an hour plus mileage and can be used in addition to Medicaid, Medicare, Social Security and other programs.

“It does not affect any other programs they’re on,” Prowse said.

Foster grandparents can work anywhere from 15-35 hours. During their time on the program, fosters accrue sick leave and vacation time.

“It’s a chance for the government to give something back to them now and to help the community still,” Prowse said.

At the moment, the program has approximately four seniors assisting schools in the Concordia Parish School District.

“We are hoping as the word gets out the program will draw more interest and more participants,” Nelson said.

While the program only involves Concordia Parish schools, the program isn’t just restricted to seniors in the district.

“If you’re in Natchez, you’re able to work in Concordia Parish,” Prowse said.

Cowan hopes more people her age will become involved.

“There are so many kids out there that need the love and the help,” Cowan said.

For more information, contact Prowse at 318-484-2260.