Local teen volunteers at school

Avery Robinson settles into the fluffy couch cushions and peels back bright orange wrapping paper to reveal a new book. As he begins to turn the pages, Lincoln Elementary School first-

grader Kyle Whitson, 7, draws close, his right foot rapidly tapping the floor.

Avery tells Kyle and classmate Chaylen Savage about gazelles, hippos and even cockroaches that go "hiss, hiss, hiss."

It's a scene that's been repeated many times over the last three months. Avery, a junior at Crescent Valley High School, devotes about four hours a week to helping students in the first through fifth grades learn to read. Community service, he says, is important to his family. His father, OSU men's basketball coach Craig Robinson, and stepmother, Kelly Robinson, regularly talk about it with Avery and his sister, Leslie, 12.

It's also an important topic to his uncle, President Barack Obama, who supports the formation of a national community service program and expansion of the AmeriCorps program.

"My uncle and I have talked about this," Avery said of the reading project. "He thinks it's important for kids to give back to their communities. But this was my decision. It's something I talked about with my parents."

Avery said he is excited about attending today's presidential inauguration. His family also planned to do some type of community-

service project on Monday in Washington, D.C., to celebrate the Martin Luther King Jr. holiday.

"Avery is amazing," said Shahnaz Sahnow, Lincoln Elementary's literacy coordinator. "The kids always look forward to his time with them. You can see it on their faces. Avery is a natural teacher. He's fun and has a great sense of humor."

Avery works with students in the first through third grades in the literacy support room. He works with fourth- and fifth-grade students in their classrooms.

"I knew I had to do something with my time when I saw that I had the open blocks in my class schedule," Avery said of how the reading adventure began. "So I asked at my school about doing some type of community service."

Avery admits he was a "little nervous at first, but once I got a routine, it got easier. I talk to my family about it a lot."

In addition to reading to the students, Avery said he enjoys listening to them.

"The other day, one girl said Darth Vader came to her house for supper," Avery said, laughing.

Avery said he had not considered teaching as a career until this experience.

"I may become a teacher. I'm going to look into it more," Avery said.

"It has been a great experience. I definitely could become a teacher, I am enjoying it so much."

A point guard for the Crescent Valley basketball team, Avery said he enjoys watching movies and hanging out with his friends.

Thursday was Avery's last day of tutoring for this term, and some of the students made him thank-you cards. One wrote, "You've been working hard for a long time. You deserve a break."

"I really liked that one," Avery said with a smile.

Avery Robinson

AGE: 16

EDUCATION: Junior at Crescent Valley High School

VOLUNTEER SERVICE: Reads to students at Lincoln Elementary School

FAMILY: Son of Craig and Kelly Robinson; has a sister, Leslie, 12; and he's the nephew of President Barack Obama and first lady Michelle Obama

OTHER INTERESTS: Point guard for Crescent Valley Raiders basketball team; enjoys watching movies and hanging out with his friends