Region 6 – Inland Empire:
Bonnie Insull – I first heard about School on Wheels a year ago, through Volunteer Match. Riverside has a large homeless population, many of whom live in tents on the other side of ‘my’ mountain. I’d been looking for a way to contribute positively to their lives for some time, so I was very excited to discover School on wheels.
Every week, I look forward to working with my 2nd grade student, Collin. Although I’ve been a teacher all my life, I hadn’t worked with elementary school students before. Tutoring a second grader provides a bright spot in my week and the deep satisfaction of using my years of teaching experience while expanding my skill and understanding. I am proud to be a part of this organization.
Region 8 – Ventura County:
Samantha Pedersen – Samantha is a wonderful tutor. She is extremely patient with her student and always comes prepared with new and interesting ways to engage his interest. As as a high school volunteer, Samantha always amazes me with her maturity and natural ability to engage with and bond with her student. We are so thankful to have you, Samantha!
– Angie Allmendinger, Regional Coordinator
Dawn Hildebrand – Dawn is an absolutely inspiring tutor. For the past few months, I have watched her student grow from a scared and quiet child that barely looked us in the eyes, to a gregarious eight-year-old. Connor is genuinely proud to share his achievements with Dawn, and her care, patience, and joy in his small successes is absolutely heartfelt. Thank you, Dawn!
– Angie Allmendinger, Regional Coordinator
Online
Nathan Williams – In college, there’s a tendency for me to get caught up in my own affairs. As I spend my evenings working away in libraries and dormitories, campus gradually evolves into the entirety of my world. Consequently, I forget about the world around me. Fortunately, School on Wheels not only keeps me connected with the outside world, it also enables me to keep tabs on what’s going on back home in LA. The various students I’ve tutored through School on Wheels have taught me a lot about LA’s diverse backgrounds, teaching me that no one can ever really know the entirety of their city, let alone the world. In turn, School on Wheels has also granted me an opportunity to share a bit of Boston (my new home) with my students. Every online tutoring session serves as a cultural exchange of sorts, whereby both my students and I exchange bits of knowledge that we may have otherwise never known about the cities we call home. I moved from LA to Boston not long ago, and I’m glad to be able to continue as a volunteer with School on Wheels.