Tutors of the Month – July 2018

Region 4 – Long Beach, South Bay Cities:

Ian Lee – I am very proud to be a part of School on Wheels since 2016. As a high school student, I know it’s important to get help when needed. Otherwise, it’s easy to give up. I feel satisfied when I see my student grasps concepts and improve. For some kids, just reading with them is good enough. One student’s mom said her son was able to pass the reading test that he failed before and move up to the next level. I have lots to learn to become a good tutor. I’m learning every week not only from other wonderful tutors but from the awesome students who trust me and share their stories.

Online:

Ann Kimball – Since joining School on Wheels, I realized that any student, no matter where they come from, has potential to become or do anything they set their minds to through encouragement, hard work, and determination. As an online tutor, it is so exciting to see a student succeed at a task that they previously thought extremely difficult. When one of my students, Zonia, learned of the simplicity of adding and subtracting positive and negative integers, a task that she had told me before she did not understand, she could not wait to show her teacher what she had learned! My time working with an incredible organization like School on Wheels has helped me to encourage a love of learning within students while also giving me the chance to meet truly intelligent and inspiring personalities every single week. Whether it be making them laugh or teaching them something new, the vast array of students I have had the pleasure of working with always makes my sessions both eye-opening and exciting.

Region 1 – East LA:

Nayelie Aguilar – When volunteering with School on Wheels, I feel that there is an opportunity given to families who don’t have as many resources. I first began tutoring because I know how challenging it may be when situations about income can affect a student academically. My mother was laid off, and we lost our house when I was younger, but if I had known there were programs like School on Wheels I would’ve taken the opportunity. I feel honored to be able to give back, and even if it’s just helping tutor one child, I am grateful. My experiences with School on Wheels have positively impacted my life and helped me view certain situations differently.

Region 9 – North Orange County:

Jacob Maldonado – I have been tutoring with School on Wheels since 2016, and I have enjoyed every moment. While there are challenging times, I can always learn from them to provide a better experience for my student. I discovered SOW at a time when I was looking for a chance to gain one-on-one tutoring experience with a student. Without a doubt, my tutoring experience with SOW has prepared me for my current job position as an elementary school instructional assistant. SOW has not only provided me the perfect opportunity to grow as an educator but to grow as a person. Thanks to SOW, I have a better understanding of the resilience and strength of students in need.

Region 5 – Hollywood, Silverlake, Pasadena:

Holly Fleischer – I’ve been a tutor with School on Wheels for over two years now. I signed up in the winter during the last election year. Through my day job, I was lucky enough to be part of the Entertainment Council for Hilary Clinton, andI got to sit in on meetings with incredible leaders such as Valerie Jarrett, Huma Abedin and Senator Corey Booker. Being part of that group made me realize that I needed to do something more than just my day job. Not just for me, but for my own kids to see. I wanted them to know from an early age that their mom may work but she also volunteers. I felt it was important that I make a difference starting from a local level and through much research I found School on Wheels. They make it super convenient for you to work with kids close to your home or work. During my time as a volunteer, I tutored a young girl named Tatiana from 4th – 6th grade, and I’ve been working with Jessica, a kindergartener, for the past school year. Helping these kids with their schoolwork is important, but for me, getting to know them and be part of their lives is my favorite aspect of working with SOW. Tatiana has since moved from LA, and I am still in touch with her mom from time to time. She will always have a special place in my heart and so will Jesse.

Martin Han – I originally heard about School on Wheels through a friend and have been tutoring with School on Wheels for about two years. As group tutors, we spend a lot of our time helping students through workbooks or digital learning material. It’s always cool when we work through a problem, and the student learns that the material is not as hard as it seemed.

Brian Morales – I started volunteering at School on Wheels because I have seen the benefits of education first hand and I wanted to help a younger generation get excited about learning. My favorite moment was when my students asked for me to come on non-tutoring days to hang out and play with them. It showed that I made a positive impact on the students I work with.

Sharon Senko – School on Wheels struck me as an organization making a real impact on an often overlooked population, and I knew I wanted to volunteer the second I learned about the opportunity. Group tutoring at Zahn is always a highlight of my week. The kids are full of energy and it’s wonderful to watch them progress. My fellow tutors are awesome! We’ve just become a Digital Learning Center which has further improved the engagement level of the students. I am very grateful to School on Wheels for their support and look forward to volunteering for many more years to come.