Michael Bush, Jane Addams Resource Corporation, Chicago
Michael began tutoring ten months ago and has already been involved with many areas at the Jane Addams Resource Corporation. He leads math group, serves on committees, tutors GED students and offers help to students who are looking for additional help. His nominator, Amanda Hunter, describes Michael as the, “cornerstone of our math services.” In his math group, he has already helped students increase their GE program scores by as many as three points. The committees he serves on are the planning committee and the logistics subcommittee. Michael is a committed volunteer, who provides quality, long-term support to the more than twenty students he has worked with thus far.
Dorothy Carlson, Waubonsee Community College Adult Literacy Project, Aurora
Dorothy began tutoring her first ESL student six years ago. When the two began their tutoring sessions, her student was not literate in her native language and needed improvement with all of her English skills. During the time that Dorothy tutored her student, her student attained her driver’s license, purchased a car, landed a job and successfully completed her ESL classes, which allowed her to begin working towards her GED in ABE classes. Dedicated to continue helping her student, she moved with her student to the ABE classroom. Her nominator, Kathy Turnowchyk, describes her as, “a quiet, steady and reliable volunteer. She is the kind of person that will recognize students’ needs and follow through with helping them reach their potential.”
Phyllis Dotson, Jump Start, Illinois Youth Center, Kewanee
Phyllis Dotson is a retired teacher and school counselor. She has been tutoring at IYC-Kewanee since March 2008 and is keen on recognizing her students’ individual interests and incorporating them into her tutoring sessions. One of her students struggled with reading aloud until Phyllis learned that her student enjoyed cooking. After bringing cooking magazines to the tutoring sessions, her student began feeling more comfortable and began reading aloud with her. Phyllis became an AmeriCorps member in September 2008 and uses her AmeriCorps stipend to purchase supplies for her tutoring sessions. Her nominator, Deb Sundberg says, “She is very caring and companionate, and enjoys working with her students as much as they enjoy her.”
Kelly A. Gallagher, South-East Asia Center, Chicago
Kelly is a dedicated tutor, who cares and works to understand her students and their needs. She tailors each tutoring session to the specific student she will be working with. Her dedication to her students’ individual needs is apparent in the enthusiasm they have for furthering their language skills. One of Kelly’s students, who was at a sixth-grade reading level upon entrance to the program, discovered an interest in reading short stories and newspaper articles after tutoring with Kelly. Kelly’s nominator, Carol Williams, says, “What I believe are Kelly’s greatest strengths and attributes, which serve her well as a tutor and merit acknowledgment, are her dedication, genuine concern and advocacy for her students.”
Vicente Garcia, Erie Neighborhood House, Chicago
Vicente began volunteering two years ago in Erie Neighborhood House’s citizenship class. The citizenship class is composed of students with varying degrees of proficiency and preparation time. In addition to the difficulty of volunteering in a mixed level classroom, Vicente’s students also feel the pressure of the $675 cost of the citizenship test. Thanks to Vicente’s dedication to his students and his hard work in the classroom, 99% of the students pass their citizenship test and interview. Vicente’s nominator, Jesus Rodriguez, says that, “Vicente Garcia is very knowledgeable in the field, responsible and hardworking”
Jose Luis Ibarez, Erie Neighborhood House, Chicago
Since Jose became a U.S. citizen, with the help of Erie Neighborhood House, he has been devoted to helping others achieve the same goal. Jose tutors students in the Community Literacy program and motivates his students to pass the citizenship test. Jose also participates in the Language Exchange program, one-on-one sessions and has gotten his entire family involved with programs at Erie Neighborhood House. Jose’s nominator, Susana Ortiz, says that, “Jose has truly become a leader in the Erie Community.” and that “it’s amazing how much one family can help.
Jessica Horn, St. Joseph Services, Chicago
Jessica uses her enthusiasm to motivate her students by taking them on field trips, such as to the Mexican art exhibition at the Universidad Nacional Autonoma de Mexico and the Chicago Public Library. Before each field trip, Jessica prepares her students by teaching them necessary vocabulary and other pertinent information for their destination. In addition to volunteering at St. Joseph Services, Jessica also volunteers at the Vincentian Young Adults Group, is a member of the Economic Development Committee at the Near Northwest Neighborhood Network and works as a Loan Officer at the non-profit Accion Chicago. In the words of her nominator, Ernesto Fierro, Jessica is, “very invested in supporting the community” and is “a very dependable literacy volunteer.”
Jaye Jones, Literacy Chicago, Chicago
Jaye is described by her nominator, June Porter, as, “an outstanding volunteer, who saw a need, filled it and then realized she wanted to keep it going.” A few years ago, Jaye wanted to create a reading program exclusive for women. Jaye independently found the Reading Against the Odds grant, applied for it on behalf of Literacy Chicago and received the grant. She used the grant funds to start her book discussion class for women, where they read and discussed books by authors, such as Tony Morrison and Zora Neale Hurston. The class not only introduced Jaye’s students to prominent female authors, but also increased the students’ enthusiasm for and confidence in their reading abilities. Today, the popular reading class is still going strong, despite the end of the grant, and now includes both men and women.
Roger Lankford, Jane Addams Resource Corporation, Chicago
Since Roger began tutoring seven months ago, he has been a founding member of the new ESL program and works with JARC employees on the program’s curriculum. Roger goes beyond the required once per week tutoring requirement and tutors twice a week. Roger’s nominator, Amanda Hunter, says that, “Roger arrives an hour early and preps his lessons in our library, exploring and utilizing JARC’s resources.” Roger is a devoted volunteer, who shows dedication to his students by creating the best lessons and curriculum possible.
George Martin, Howard Area Community Center, Chicago
Over the four years that George has been tutoring for Howard Area Community Center, he has done exceptional work for his students. “George is reliable, gracious, well-informed and kind,” says his nominator, Maya Marshall. George ensures that all of his students make progress and reach their goals. All of the students he tutors made notable gains for every three months George tutored them. Also, George has earned a positive reputation among students, as he is often requested by name by when students return to the program.
Sally Maybrook, Literacy Chicago, Chicago
Sally’s nominator, June Porter, says that, “Of all the dedicated one-on-one tutors that we have, Sally stands apart from the rest because of her tireless devotion to her students and the organization.” In the six years that Sally has tutored with Literacy Chicago, Sally has strongly encouraged each of her students to use their tutoring sessions as an opportunity to further understand their own abilities, interests and thoughts. Sally has each of her students keep their own journal and often will meet students outside of the classroom for a theatre production, dinner or any event that might interest them. Sally’s students have used her self-exploratory approach to tutoring as a chance to pursue their goals. One of Sally’s students now attends the Art Institute and others have spoken to a packed room at Literacy Chicago’s Words on the Page event. Sally is a valued tutor, who takes pride in her students’ abilities and achievements.
Paul Nuara, Albany Park Community Center, Chicago
Paul is a responsible tutor, who not only volunteers as a teacher’s aide in an ABE/GED class once a week, but also takes on additional duties. Since Paul began volunteering, his duties have expanded to include one-one-one tutoring and facilitating his own lesson plans during class. Students and teachers alike entrust Paul with extra responsibility because as Paul’s nominator, Andrew Johnson, says, “Paul is respectful, enthusiastic, friendly, and shows genuine concern for his students … he is also a natural leader.”
Elise Ranger, Christopher House, Chicago
For over a year, Elise has worked with GED students, tutoring in reading, writing, math and science. She is an enthusiastic volunteer, who truly believes in her students. Her nominator, Amy Rhoades, says of Elise that, “She has a contagious enthusiasm and has eagerly passed this on to the students she tutors.” Elise’s students have shown much improvement in their TABE scores and two of them have received their GEDs. Elise’s devotion to her role as a tutor and the encouragement she gives to her students makes Elise an excellent volunteer.
Karen Roche, School on Wheels/Congregation of St. Joseph, LaGrange Park
“Karen’s creative teaching methods, along with her communicative approach to the study of language contribute to her success as a tutor.” says her nominator, Deborah Bradt. Over the eleven years that Karen has been a tutor at her site, she has found interesting ways to incorporate students’ lives into each lesson plan. When Karen learned that one of her students was planning a vacation to Disney World, Karen began incorporating Mickey Mouse into her tutoring sessions to teach map skills, prepositions and other aspects of literacy. In addition to Karen’s role as tutor, she also is an enthusiastic recruiter for new tutors, serves on the Advisory Board and is an avid fundraiser for School on Wheels. Her nominator also says of Karen that, “Her enthusiasm is contagious, her energy is limitless and her creativity is inspiring.”
Rupe Simms, Erie Neighborhood House, Chicago
Rupe is a valued volunteer at Erie Neighborhood House. In the three and a half years he has volunteered, he has worked with 47 students, who are working to obtain their citizenship. Rupe motivates and challenges his students to continue the 99% citizenship test success rate of Erie Neighborhood House. His nominator, Jesus Rodriguez, describes Rupe as, “trustworthy, loves helping others, has a lot of patience and his integrity is unquestionable.”
Julie Stone, School on Wheels/Congregation of St. Joseph, LaGrange Park
In addition to volunteering at four other organizations, Julie also finds time to tutor two to three students every Monday for the School on Wheels program. She carefully plans each lesson and also remains flexible to each of her students’ needs. Julie also finds ways to encourage and congratulate her students. When one of her students passed the citizenship test, Julie rewarded her student with a flag cake. In addition to tutoring, Julie also served on a tutor panel for an in-service meeting and spoke to tutors at a recent tutoring session. Her students make definite progress and as her nominator, Deborah Bradt says, “are wholly enriched by their time spent with Julie.”
David Swanson, Erie Neighborhood House, Chicago
David began volunteering at Erie Neighborhood House in 2007 as a one-on-one ESL tutor. Shortly after he began tutoring, he was invited to volunteer teach at Carpenter Elementary School. David also taught ESL through technology to a classroom of over ten parents. Today, David continues to help at Carpenter Elementary in their Vocational Career bridge program. His nominator, Susana Oritz, says that, “…David (has) demonstrated a deep understanding and commitment towards the community.”
Filtod Walker, Literacy Chicago, Chicago
Filtod has been training tutors for eight years and is an integral part of Literacy Chicago. In addition to training tutors once a month, he also continues to help tutors after they complete training. Filtod recently helped tutors organize a conversation club by providing resources on developing the new club. His nominator, June Porter, says of Filtod that, “He is one of the primary reasons our tutors are so outstanding and that our program continues to develop.”
Steve Wead, Erie Neighborhood House, Chicago
Steve has only been with Erie Neighborhood House for a little over a year, but is already an important asset to the site. He has worked with over fifty ESL students. He helped one student, whom he worked with for several months, prepare and pass her citizenship test. Steve’s nominator, Susana Oritz, says that, “It’s an honor for Erie Neighborhood House to have Steve Wead as one of our volunteer instructors.” and that, “Mr. Wead is an excellent asset to the Erie House community.”
Elizabeth Webb-Kaul, Albany Park Community Center, Chicago
As a recent volunteer-turned-part-time-teacher, Elizabeth has proved herself invaluable in both roles. During her time as a volunteer, she worked with four low-literacy students, as well as assisted in a Level One ESL class. Elizabeth has the patience and drive that is necessary to teach basic literacy learners. Her nominator, Michelle Fleming, says that Elizabeth, “…has spent extra time planning lessons, has observed our teaching staff and has attended several supplemental trainings in order to become an expert tutor, who specializes in working with students with low literacy levels.” With Elizabeth’s help, her students make strides by having command of the alphabet, learning the sounds of words and completing basic forms.
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