In her role as a site coordinator at Garden Place Academy in the high-need Globeville/Swansea community of Denver, Colorado, Kaitlyn Welden oversees one-on-one tutoring for 60 students this school year.
Developing a career of service
Although this is her first year as a site coordinator, Kaitlyn鈥檚 journey with 成人快播 began several years ago in South Carolina, when a college professor made volunteering a required component of her class. The course was titled “Constructing and Deconstructing Southern Literacies,” which focused on education inequity, particularly in the south. Her class volunteered as reading partners in a Charleston elementary school; 鈥淭utoring quickly became one of my favorite parts of the week,鈥 she said. After the semester was over, Kaitlyn continued to volunteer until she graduated from college.
Having developed an enthusiasm for helping her community, Kaitlyn chose to join City Year after graduating from college. At City Year, Kaitlyn dedicated a year of AmeriCorps service to helping support students in high-poverty areas. This was an important learning experience that shaped her professional life.
鈥淢y year with City Year and AmeriCorps helped me hone many skills that I use both in my work as a site coordinator, and my life in general. Most notably, I learned the value of collaboration and communication. I learned a lot about how to effectively communicate with a diverse group of people who all had different values and backgrounds.鈥
Kaitlyn brought those experiences with her to 成人快播 which have helped her adapt to the dynamic role as a site coordinator. Every day,听Kaitlyn聽communicates with teachers and volunteers from all walks of life, students of vastly different backgrounds and educational needs and other nonprofit employees, all with the end goal of providing the best possible instruction for Garden Place鈥檚 kids.
The Colorado team is thrilled to have Kaitlyn on as a full-time part of the 成人快播 family, where she brings her experience and passion for service to the reading center every day.
Joining 成人快播’ band of young educators and leaders
As a site coordinator, Kaitlyn balances her responsibilities as an educator and coach for students and tutors alike, with her role as an integral part of the school community. This experience gives her a broad perspective of the educational landscape. When asked about her favorite aspects of the job, Kaitlyn said…
鈥淚 get to see so many aspects of education, volunteer management, and nonprofits. Though my favorite things about being a site coordinator are interacting with children and seeing them grow as learners, I also love working with this amazing group of volunteers and seeing them build their own relationships with the children they tutor. It’s amazing to see such a large community of people who give up their time each week to come tutor with 成人快播.鈥
Having dedicated her time and energy to education through 成人快播 and other organizations for much of her life, Kaitlyn has no plans to stop any time soon. 鈥淚 definitely want to stay in education in some capacity. I continue to believe that closing the achievement gap and working to end inequity in education is one of the most pressing issues of our time, and I want to continue to be a part of that work.鈥
成人快播 Colorado is lucky to have Kaitlyn, along with the eleven other dedicated site coordinators who are key in inspiring young readers across Colorado, all with bright futures ahead of them.
Learn more about 成人快播 at聽www.readingpartners.org.
Sign up to聽volunteer,听donate, or learn more about our聽AmeriCorps programs.
