HAVERHILL — A little more than two years ago, Joseph Rutkauskas read at about a third-grade level and had a hard time spelling words such as "shed," "jam" or "link."
Today, he reads at a high-school level, according to Anne Powell, his literacy tutor at the Haverhill Public Library, and he can read the owner's manual if he needs to fix a Briggs & Stratton lawn mower rather than just depend on his considerable dexterity.
"Now I can read the words," he said proudly.
Rutkauskas can also read the directions for "Dungeons and Dragons," a game he likes to play, but that many people find too complicated to attempt. He enjoys science fiction, such as "Star Trek" and "Star Wars."
Rutkauskas, 42, who dropped out of high school in the middle of freshman year — after having repeated two grades — recently completed the two-year literacy course offered by the Greater Haverhill Adult Learning Program. The program serves 35 to 50 students per year, Powell said.
"I languished for years and then I found this program and got tutoring from Anne Powell," said Rutkauskas, an easy-going man who is quick with a quip. That was in August 2006.
During the years since he left school, Rutkauskas worked in landscaping — that's how he became familiar with Briggs & Stratton lawn mowers — and did menial jobs.
Rutkauskas is not happy with the Haverhill school system and noted the high school's high dropout rate.
During the 2006-2007 school year, the Haverhill High dropout rate was 7.5 percent, according to the state Department of Education. The statewide rate was 3.8 percent.
"They didn't do a good job teaching me," Rutkauskas said.
A special education teacher, he said, once restrained him on the floor.
"He wanted to show he was the boss," Rutkauskas said.
So he left school and went through life reading at a third-grade level. He was functionally illiterate, Powell said.
That changed, however, after he began his tutoring sessions, 60 to 90 minutes each, twice a week.
Rutkauskas, who lives on Leonard Avenue with his father, also named Joseph Rutkauskas, does not have a driver's license or a car, so he gets around either by walking or riding his bicycle.
"Joe showed a lot of gumption," said Powell, a former high school teacher. "Even in the snow and rain, he came to his sessions."
"I'm a pit bull," he said with a laugh.
Rutkauskas said he now reads "way better" than he did before and he feels better about himself.
"On one of his papers, Joe wrote 'not stupid!'" Powell recalled. Because of his difficulty with reading, he received more of his share of insults over the years.
Powell uses the Wilson Reading System to teach her students. She describes it as a pure phonics program designed for people with dyslexia and other language-based learning disabilities. Rutkauskas said he has dyslexia.
While seemingly simple words may have stumped him two years ago, Rutkauskas can now spell "wrecked," "scheme" and "ambitious" without a problem, Powell said.
So speaking of "ambitious," what's next for this man who, after "languishing" as a non-reader for so many years, finally did something about it?
Graduates of Powell's program are considered ready to enter a GED program and she is urging Rutkauskas to do just that.
Rutkauskas said he will have to do it when he's ready. As for employment, he does not have a steady job and he admits that the worsening economy scares him.
Powell and others, however, are gently encouraging Rutkauskas to look for a stable position. After all, thanks to lots of hard work on his part, this man can read.
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