Happy Birthday!

• February 18: Karen
• February 19: Barry
• February 21: Alicia
• February 25: Diana
• February 27: Brenda

Volunteer Spotlight!

Meet Annegret who took initiative to bring tutoring volunteers together!

Throughout her seven years of tutoring immigrants and refugees, Annegret’s passion for education and her incredible dedication continues brings tremendous impact to Catholic Charities and her learners. Her desire to volunteer began with a personal connection to the immigrant experience. Annegret reflects, “My parents immigrated to the United States with nothing but their young children. Although they were uneducated and spoke no English upon arrival, eleven years later they were able to become naturalized citizens. As a result, I am happy to be able to help another generation of new Americans acclimate to this strange and wonderful country.”

Known for her thoughtful approach and willingness to collaborate, Annegret took initiative this past month to lead our first in-person “Make and Take” workshop which brought volunteers together in a meaningful exchange of tutoring ideas and resources. Volunteers gathered around to share their tutoring experiences, encouraged new tutors, and learned about resources their fellow volunteers use.

For Annegret, “the Make and Take workshop was wonderful because I realized how much all of us have in common. In addition to gaining a few ideas, it just felt great to know that there are lots of other people with the same hopes and frustrations,” she shares.

For many tutoring volunteers, measuring one’s impact can feel difficult as many learners progress slowly. With master’s degrees in teaching, special education, and school administration, along with several years of experience in public education and tutoring, Annegret offers valuable advice to new and experienced tutors alike.

If you’re wondering whether you’re making a difference, remember that every bit of progress counts. Adult learners have different needs and struggles than children, but the difference you’re making is real, even if it’s not immediately visible.

She recognizes that “teaching adults, even under the best circumstances, is much more difficult and much more time consuming than teaching children,” Annegret explains. “Teaching adults who did not have the benefit of learning how to study or how to practice skills means I have to teach those skills in addition to teaching the content material.” For many of Catholic Charities’ learners, being from the Rohingya community, it may be the first time they are learning to read and write in any language.

To measure the impact of her tutoring, Annegret focuses on her students’ personal goals. “There are three things that are helpful to me in remaining motivated and able to see progress in each session,” she shares. “First, I focus my instruction on what the learner wants to learn. Unlike when I was a professional teacher, in my current role, my goal is to help the learner reach their own goals. Currently, I have one learner who wants very much to pass the citizenship test and then increase her English skills. The other learner wants to provide for and care for his family.” Planning specific learning outcomes for each session also helps Annegret gauge progress. “If I know exactly what my objective is for the session; it feels good at the end of the lesson when the learner can demonstrate the new skill or share the new knowledge,” she explains. “I typically have a hands-on activity that I can use as an assessment at the end of the session.”

Through her work with Catholic Charities, Annegret continues to inspire and empower others, offering not only her knowledge but her heart. We are grateful for her leadership, dedication, and commitment to making a positive difference in the lives of those she serves.

Thank you, Annegret, for your incredible impact!