How well did Tutors for All prepare you for your work now?
I didn't realize how profoundly Tutors for All had affected me until I started working with the government. I had the unique experience of being a coordinator during my time with TFA, so it definitely prepared me professionally for the tasking that comes along with my position now. Mostly it prepared me to interact in a positive way with so many types of people; every student and tutor is a different person with a different personality and navigating through those differences to find effective communication tactics is actually a very political skill that is serving me well.
Words of wisdom for tutors today:
It's not just a part-time job or a work-study gig; it's important and life-changing work for your students and you, if you let it be. It's easy to lose sight of that when you're stressing out about college finals...
Fondest memory of Tutors for All:
One of my students was always in a terrible mood, always fighting me every step of the way, and even though I was frustrated I just kept trying to change the lesson to get her interested. My commitment did not go unnoticed and towards the end of the program she wrote me a letter apologizing for being 'difficult' sometimes and thanking me for not giving up on her. I still have that letter. Also, TFA is how I met one of my closest friends: Sarah Pingeton!
Knowing what you know now, how do you think Tutors for All could better reach its mission?
TFA needs the same things any good-doing organization needs to better succeed: more money, more resources and more manpower. The program in itself is excellent, you just need more of everything!
Emmanuel College, Class of '09
Double Major: Sociology & International Relations
Honors: Presidential Scholar '05-'09, Magna Cum Laude, Dual Distinction in the Field
Activities: Dance Team, Red Cross Volunteer
Previous Tutors for All Programs: Fall '06 - Spring '09; tutor at City on a Hill, Lead Tutor at Codman Academy, Program Coordinator at Codman Academy.
What are you doing now?
I am currently an Executive Assistant with the Task Force for Business and Stability Operations (TFBSO) under the Department of Defense. We focus on stabilizing war zones (Iraq-Afghanistan-Pakistan) through economic development in order to increase safety for the people and our troops. It's necessary and fascinating work. On the cooler side, I have 24/7 access to the Pentagon and recently went go-karting in Iraq.
How does it relate to the work you did at Tutors for All?
While on a surface level the two organizations seem very different, at their core both the TFBSO and Tutors For All are driven by a desire to create opportunity, develop potential, and improve someone else's chance for success. It sounds very altruistic, however benefits reverberate much further than we think and in both missions, whether economic or educational, there are positive effects on security and, in general, for the community. I'm currently working with populations whose educational statistics are outright depressing and while we do have programs working with the Universities in the countries we are involved in, we could be doing more. Hopefully one day me and Mr. Destler can figure out a way to make the TFA mission worldwide!
was an entirely different experience from what I had before. It was a place I felt I could teach and make a lot of changes to my own methods.
How did your work relate to the work you did with Tutors for All?
VS: Working with Tutors for All, it was the first time I was able to put faces to the achievement gap. You hear about it and read about it, but until you see the students that are struggling... It was the first time it clicked for me, that I had a chance to make a change in a life. I was able to take ownership of the issue. But, being in the classroom is not the only way to help close the achievement gap. My decision to leave teaching and pursue a career in nursing is my way of helping in another facet. Too many students that lacked health insurance would go to clinics. I, myself, was misdiagnosed at a clinic and given a prescription for medicine I was allergic to. These are basic needs, along with nutrition awareness, that are all contributing to the widening of the achievement gap.
How well did Tutors for All to prepare you for the work you do now?
VS: Amazingly. I was able to think back to lots of little things Mark would say. Little things about interpersonal relationship skills and dealing with your students on an everyday basis. And having that one-on-one relationship over a long period of time makes for different experience that definitely helped.
VS: The time I taught one of my students how to long-divide. He was in 10th grade. I remember he hated math. He'd keep putting his head down. But we kept at it and I kept encouraging him. Once it finally clicked, he was able to do all these different math problems. Long-division was the common thread that was preventing him from moving forward. I was able to see how his perspective changed. I saw the connection happen and became totally addicted to that.
Simmons College, Class of '08
Major: Biology
Activities: Pre-Dental Club, Biology and Physical Sci Teacher, Aug '08 - Present
TfA: CoaH FA '07, SU '08, FA '08
Tutors for All was able to reach Vic for an interview over the phone. She's currently in New Jersey, spending time with her family and fiance, Daniel DeFiglio. She was kind enough to take a few moments out of her vacation to talk about her experience with Tutors for All.
What are you doing these days?
VS: I just finished two years with Teach for America in St. Louis. Now I'm in the process of preparing for nursing school. I'll finish in the next year, and then go on to get my doctorate to become a nurse practitioner.
What was your experience like, working for Teach for America?
VS: My first year I worked in a charter school teaching biology for the 10th, 11th, and 12th grades. It was definitely hectic. I remember staying many nights until 8:30 or 9:00. My second year I taught physical science and biology to 9th and 10th graders at the Soldan International Studies High School, a school for refugees of religious and ethnic persecution. It was an entirely different experience from what I had before. It was a place I felt I could teach and make a lot of changes to my own methods.
VS: Working with Tutors for All, it was the first time I was able to put faces to the achievement gap. You hear about it and read about it, but until you see the students that are struggling... It was the first time it clicked for me, that I had a chance to make a change in a life. I was able to take ownership of the issue.
VS: My first year I worked in a charter school teaching biology for the 10th, 11th, and 12th grades. It was definitely hectic. I remember staying many nights until 8:30 or 9:00. My second year I taught physical science and biology to 9th and 10th graders at the Soldan International Studies High School, a school for refugees of religious and ethnic persecution. It
Dan and Vic have been engaged since November. They met in St. Louis both serving in Teach for America. The wedding is scheduled for January.
Congratulations Vic and Dan!
Best Wishes!
TfA: Did TfA help to prepare you for the work you're doing now?
TSL: The skills that I learned from 3+ years with Tutors for All help me every day as I work with my students. Through Tutors for All I learned how to be a "drill instructor with a heart of gold" - pushing my students and demanding nothing but the best, but always letting them know that I believe in them, and that I care about their success and future.
TfA: Words of wisdom for tutors today?
TSL: Be patient. Always remind your student about why it's important to do their best, and why the tutoring program is such a great opportunity for them. And when the going gets tough, remind yourself why you're doing what you do. Tutoring can be a tough job at times, but programs like this make a direct and lasting impact in their target communities, and your work is important in making these programs succeed. Don't forget it!
TfA: Fondest memory of Tutors for All:
TSL: In 2006, I started tutoring at City on a Hill's MCAS program. After the semester concluded, I figured that I wouldn't ever run into my students again, but two years later, one of them signed up to work for the program! Having a former student become a colleague and seeing him contribute to a program that helped him succeed on the MCAS was definitely the highlight of my Tutors for All career.
Brandeis University, Class of '09
Major: Linguistics, minor in Computer Science
Activities: Free-running club, running a high school linguistics olympiad
When Tai isn't headbanging at the latest metal show or whipping up some homemade oreos for his friends, he's hard at work in the classroom, making a difference in the lives of every student he meets. Tutors for All caught up with Tai to see how he's been.
TfA: What are you doing these days?
TSL: I'm currently finishing up a year-long commitment as a MATCH Corps tutor, a full-time tutoring position at the MATCH charter high school in Boston.
TfA: How does your job relate to the work you did at Tutors for All?
TSL: Tutors for All shares a lot in common with the MATCH Corps program.Every freshman and sophomore student at MATCH receives a mandatory two hours of one-on-one or one-on-two tutoring, and sophomores receive an additional 4-hour block of MCAS tutoring on the weekends. Tutors for All's belief that tutoring is an effective tool to help students thrive academically mirrors our own, and both programs share a sense of urgency and that there's not a moment to waste. The similarities between the programs have helped me make a smooth transition to my position as a MATCH Corps tutor.
We wish you the best of luck!
Thank you for your service!
Alumni Portrait Series
Five years, dozens of programs, thousands of students; all of it has depended on college students and volunteers. We've met some amazing young men and women along the way. We're catching up with some of these folks to see what they're up to now.
