Volunteers of the Month – October 2026
Jaime Trujillo
What motivated you to start volunteering with School on Wheels?
I’ve always loved teaching and I wanted to help underserved families & individuals in my community. SOW was the perfect opportunity to do both.
What advice would you give to a new volunteer at School on Wheels?
It’s good to have a plan for tutoring sessions but also be open to changing the plan as you are doing it. Get feedback from your student because it should be an open dialogue; the plan & communication should not just be from tutor to student, it should also include from student to tutor.
What inspires you to overcome any challenges that arise with tutoring?
I love the students: I want them to continue growing healthy, happily, and successfully. That mindset helps inspire me for any challenges.
What have you learned from your student?
I’ve had many students and they have all taught me different things. Sometimes it will be the new lingo that kids are using in school or more serious topics such as reminding me the simplicity in life and to appreciate the moments with those who I share it with. I love learning from them.
Donald Mayer
What motivated you to start volunteering with School on Wheels?
I have always been interested in education. I have never been a full-time teacher, but I have always tried to stay involved with teaching. I created lectures for my co-workers, then I began teaching part-time at UCLA and at Palos Verdes High School. Interacting with students is not just rewarding, it keeps us old folks young and in touch with pop culture. When I retired in 2019, I looked for ways to stay involved with teaching and SOW was an ideal way both to continue teaching and to help an underserved community.
What advice would you give to a new volunteer at School on Wheels?
I would tell them that there will be good and bad days, not every idea will work, not every student will resonate with the same strategies. Just hang in there, listen, keep trying, and enjoy.
What inspires you to overcome any challenges that arise with tutoring?
I recognize that each student takes away different things from their interaction with a tutor. Education is a small part of it, sometimes it’s career or life advice, sometimes it’s talking about their challenges at school or at home, sometimes it’s just playing games, but I like to think that just spending an hour with a student, being a constant in their lives, anchors them and helps them grow.
What have you learned from your student?
I think the most important thing is that my career path is not necessarily ideal for everyone. I was always successful in school, so I have always encouraged young people to stay in school, learn as much as possible, so that they can have a career that they enjoy. But I’ve learned from discussions with my students that an academic education is not their preferred or best career path. So it’s been enlightening helping them turn their interests, working on cars or construction or music or video games, into a potential career..
Kaushal Gokare
What motivated you to start volunteering with School on Wheels?
I first applied to school on wheels simply because I love teaching and tutoring. I tutored throughout high school and college, and it was always a great way for me to stay sharp. Most of all, I love the moments when students become genuinely curious about something, and I love being a small part in helping them explore that curiosity.
What advice would you give to a new volunteer at School on Wheels?
I think it’s extremely important to be adaptable and open-minded. All students have their own unique style of learning, oftentimes a style that contains potential that is currently unlocked. If you’re willing to meet students on their terms and adapt to their style, you can be a far more effective teacher than if you come in with a rigid idea of what learning should look like.
What inspires you to overcome any challenges that arise with tutoring?
At risk of sounding sappy, it’s the knowledge that whatever challenge I think I’m facing, I know my student is overcoming challenges far harder. As such, the least I can do for them is to level set and keep a positive attitude.
What have you learned from your student?
Honesty has taught me that I need to have more fun!
Hetty Harlow Melmed
What motivated you to start volunteering with School on Wheels?
I wanted to connect with an individual student, support her learning, and help her work toward her goals. Volunteering with School on Wheels also felt like a meaningful way to give back to LA!
What advice would you give to a new volunteer at School on Wheels?
Take advantage of the guidance and resources School on Wheels provides, and give yourself time to prepare before each session. The website has a wealth of activities for each level that help keep our sessions fun and engaging.
What inspires you to overcome any challenges that arise with tutoring?
I think about how much I value my relationship with Saoirse and that progress isn’t always about mastering a particular skill in a single session. Building trust, enjoying our time together, and making learning feel fun is what is important. We have so much fun together, and that counts for a lot!
What have you learned from your student?
Saoirse reminds me to notice and appreciate the good things in everyday life. Hearing what she is excited about and grateful for encourages me to pause and recognize the blessings in my own life, too. I am inspired by her every week!