Kathryn is an instructional volunteer who’s served at Literacy Rochester (LR) since 2018. Kathryn was drawn to volunteer at LR for many years and finally had the opportunity to begin when she retired. Now, in the seven years since the writing of this blog, she has helped to change the worlds of three students and her own through this volunteer experience.
A bit about Kathryn, she had a long career in marketing as a trade marketing manager for Constellation Brands. Prior to volunteering with LR, she didn’t have any previous teaching experience, but that didn’t discourage her from helping her students. Kathryn noted that even though she didn’t have previous experience, the skills she had developed in her career could be easily translated to a tutoring role. For instance, with marketing, it’s all about knowing your audience and that skill helped Kathryn more easily structure lessons and activities that best fit her student’s needs.
“I call my new place in life my reinvention. It encompasses a broader spectrum of how I have taken my life skills and put them into practice in the volunteer arena.”
Kathryn has worked with a number of students, each with a specific literacy outcome they wanted to achieve. Her first student wanted to be able to communicate better with her son’s teacher. Another student, Bintouba, worked towards becoming a United States citizen. The two worked together using workbooks to fine tune writing and knowledge skills that would be included in the exam. As a result of hard work, dedication, and positive support, Bintouba successfully passed the exam! Kathryn also had the honor of attending Bintouba’s swearing in ceremony. And finally, Kathryn currently works with a student who wants to start her own business as a seamstress/designer.
For each of her students, Kathryn spent a year working one-to-one and getting to know each one of them personally. Kathryn shared that an important skill for a literacy volunteer is the ability to share yourself and your time. She also expressed how fulfilling it is to be a volunteer, especially because she has always been passionate about reading and the written word. Volunteering for LR was a perfect opportunity to combine her love for literacy and goal to help others unlock new worlds.
“It has been an honor to see how they each have grown, excelled and gained confidence in their English mastery. Two students have become United States Citizens. It’s been an honor to witness.”
Kathryn also enjoys spending her free time being a head coach for Girls on the Run. In that program, she is able to teach young girls life skills through fun lessons, games, group discussions and physical activities. On a final note, she would like to remind anyone interested in improving their literacy skills that, “we are in this together and will figure out the best way to accomplish your goals.”
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