VISTAs Strengthening Children & Families in Ionia and Montcalm Counties

What is the Ionia County Intermediate School District VISTA Program?
VISTA members here are asked to create and expand programs in the area of youth development helping to increase the presence of resiliency factors in students resulting in greater asset development, less risky behaviors and more success, therefore, meeting the following goals:

Provide students with comprehensive, multifaceted, and integrated supports that are accessible, timely, and strength-based so students can achieve in school, be confident and caring, and become contributing citizens in their communities;
Involve families, fellow students, educators and community members as integral partners in the provision of a supportive, respectful learning environment; and
Integrate the human and financial resources of public and private agencies to create caring communities at each school.

The VISTA members will be utilized to create and expand youth development programs in Ionia and Montcalm counties including work in K-12 schools, college access and family involvement.

Ionia County ISD has 5 full-time VISTA members housed in General Education at the ISD Administration Building. VISTA members provide services in both Ionia and Montcalm counties through our partnership with Montcalm Area Intermediate School District.

Our VISTAs are;

Margaret Helmer:
Margaret Helmer is an AmeriCorps VISTA serving at the Ionia County Intermediate School District since February 2012. She works with both the Ionia and Montcalm Youth Advisory Councils (YAC) and their projects, assists the Montcalm Ionia College Access Network, and helps provide funding for programs. During the summer she has helped to develop curriculum and worked at both Montcalm Ionia Dedicated Development to Leadership Empowerment (MIDDLE) and Michigan Youth Leadership Training (MIYLT) Camps. As well as, working with the ENRICH Summer School Program in 2012.

Tamice Gates:
Tamice Gates joined the VISTA team at the ICISD in July 2012. She currently works on projects involving K-12 education and support. Tamice recently relocated back to Michigan this past spring after living in Georgia for several years. She currently lives in Greenville, MI, where she graduated from high school in 2004. She went on to graduate from Western Michigan University in 2009 with a Bachelor of Science. While living in Georgia she volunteered as a GED tutor at a family resource center, and as a literacy tutor for the Cobb County Literacy Council.

Lynda Ricther:
Lynda Richter joined the VISTA team at the ICISD in December 2012. She will be working on projects involving K-12 education and support. Lynda was an elementary school teacher having taught throughout Ionia County, and recently retired from Palo Community School.

Our VISTAs are supervised by, Deborah Wagner.
As the Director of Grants & Special Projects, Deb has worked at the ICISD for 13 wonderful years. She has worked with Service-Learning for 10 years and written grants for 15 years. Deb has been the VISTA Site Supervisor for 3 years now.With a passion for helping the community, Deb brings others along with her on the journey to making a positive change