Our History

Since it’s founding in 1985, STAIR has made a difference in the lives of more than 8,500 second and third graders from Orleans, Jefferson, Plaquemines, St. Tammany and Tangipahoa parish public elementary schools. Over the past three decades, thousands of community volunteers have donated their time and talents to serve as reading tutors, testers and workday helpers. Despite Hurricane Katrina and a re-organized public school system, the STAIR program has maintained its preeminence as one of the most effective children’s literacy programs for students, parents and guardians, family members, teachers and principals in the New Orleans area.

STAIR began as a neighborhood outreach mission of the Presbyterian Action Council of the Metropolitan New Orleans Area. Five volunteer tutors and five public school second grade students worked during the summer at Berean Presbyterian Church in New Orleans on reading and language skills. The objectives of the project, outlined in a mission statement were “…to equip children with skills for reading, learning and optimal development, and to provide volunteers a positive, rewarding experience, adding to the richness of their lives…” Other local churches began hosting tutoring sites to meet the needs of the STAIR program and interest expressed by their congregations.

In 1991, STAIR incorporated as a nonprofit organization. St. Charles Avenue Presbyterian Church has supported the STAIR program since its inception and has provided a home office to the STAIR program. It has been the largest tutoring site since 1992. Through the years, the STAIR program continued by incorporating new churches, local universities and elementary schools as tutoring sites.