Volunteer Stories

Kathy Kau

Kathy is a classroom volunteer and Site Director for Willow Oaks School who has taken her ASM volunteering far beyond tutoring. Kathy helped to organize the first ever free book fair at Willow Oaks, marshalling other ASM volunteers in the effort to collect and organize donated books so that each student was able to take home and keep 5 books. When the spring book fair was cancelled due to campus closure, she roped in several volunteers to select grade-appropriate donated books so every teacher on campus could send home books to each of their students.

Kathy has also been on campus helping to organize Chromebooks to go home to students for remote learning as well as packing up teacher classrooms and common spaces as part of the school’s move to the Belle Haven campus. 

Kerrin Meinhardt

Kerrin is a classroom volunteer who has connected deeply with her teacher and students. In addition to working with students during her assigned classroom time, Kerrin arrives early to organize books in the classroom library and stays late to talk with students and share stories during recess. She has attended field trips with her class, riding in the school bus with them and going to an art museum, a children’s concert and a special Halloween event.

​This spring, as students moved to remote learning and an online classroom, Kerrin became a pen pal with students during their letter writing unit as well as dedicating time to tutoring students online. 

Kathryn and Kevin Kranen

Kevin and Kathryn Kranen have a passion for education and supporting efforts aimed at closing the achievement gap among elementary school students. They have been supporting a 5th grade teacher at Willow Oaks School now for three years. A unique husband and wife team, Kevin and Kathryn support students in the same classroom for two hours every Wednesday and Thursday during the school year, working with students in small groups of two to three at a time.
 
Kevin gets to know a bit about his students’ lives. “The kids like to share their personal stories.” He ties together elements from their lives with the stories they are reading to help the students make deeper connections. 

​Kathryn shared what the volunteering has been like for her. "It’s about having a relationship with the kids and helping them achieve their potential. This is the most joyful hour in my week. It is an incredible change of pace and so rewarding.”

Keri Tully

Keri was invited by her teacher to join her Zoom classroom this spring when the Ravenswood school campuses closed and students began remote learning. At the end of her lesson for the students, the teacher pairs Keri with one student at a time in a Zoom breakout room. The student is able to read a book of their choosing - either one they have at home or an online book. Keri says, “I am able to continue with guided reading just like I do in the classroom, working on comprehension and making connections.” When time is up, she and the student rejoin the main online classroom and Keri is assigned another student to work with. 
 
Keri was also invited by her teacher to become a pen pal to students during their letter writing unit this spring. Keri has enjoyed keeping the connection with her teacher and students, “I wasn’t ready to say goodbye in February and I enjoy being able to connect with the students as they finish the school year. It’s the highlight of my week.”

Sher Amos-Grosser

Sher tells us her story of moving to virtual tutoring this spring.
 
“In mid-March when the county, and the nation, sheltered-in-place, my first thought related to All Students Matter was, what will happen to the students? Quickly, Ravenswood City School District moved their teaching protocol online and immediately thereafter ASM was asked to shift their volunteer program online as well. I was so relieved when I was reconnected with the students through Zoom.”
 
“For all of us, Covid-19 changed the way we interact, with face-to-face conversations held behind protective masks. But with web conferencing capabilities, I have the opportunity to see the students' faces, hear their voices, and continue to engage with them. I am so glad that the ASM partnership with the Ravenswood schools allowed me to continue to support the students I care so much about.”

Jesse Ladomirak
​Bob Fletcher and Sylvia Seibert

ASM volunteer Jesse Ladomirak volunteers with her father Bob Fletcher and her mother-in-law Sylvia Seibert. She remembers one student who visibly benefitted from having a consistent volunteer work with him every week.

“He had a hearing issue identified really late and had recent surgery. It was hard to understand what he was saying and you had pay close attention and ask him to speak louder, slowly.” This student was assigned to read alphabet books at the beginning of the year, but once Jesse spent a month with the student she decided to bring books she used with other students at a higher level. They discovered he could read. Jesse worked with him patiently and steadily that year. “Within months, he progressed. He became confident. His demeanor changed. I don’t think that could’ve happened if the student didn’t have the same volunteer every week to help.” 

Amy Bonforte

Amy Bonforte has been volunteering at Belle Haven School since 2016 and by the end of her first year, she expanded her reach beyond her assigned classroom to the entire school. Amy worked with the San Francisco Public Library Redistribution Program and The Children's Book Project to hand select about 1,000 books - providing at least one for every student at Belle Haven School. A win-win as the books selected would have been recycled had they not been taken. 
 
Amy didn't stop there. The following year, just before the winter and summer breaks, she set up a "bookstore" at Belle Haven to supply students with donated books to read over the school breaks. Now, Amy has set up a permanent book cart. The "grab and go" cart allows students to pick new books whenever they want. Each week, Amy can be found organizing and refreshing the popular bookstore on wheels!

Amy has also joined ASM's virtual tutoring program, a new effort implemented when campuses closed and students began learning from home.