Why I Love Boston Partners in Education: Alyssa Ha

We are grateful to have volunteers who not only support students in the classroom, but also support our daily operations. The post below is written by Alyssa Ha, our Placement Coordinator who is an AmeriCorps VISTA. VISTA volunteers dedicate one year of service to support non-profit organizations all over the nation. Alyssa has dedicated her year to improving our placement and mentor matching systems.

I am so fortunate to be serving as an AmeriCorps Volunteer in Service to America (VISTA) at Boston Partners in Education.  As the placement coordinator, I am provided amazing resources, supervision and guidance, which are not always common in the non-profit world.  The opportunity to gain professional skills while simultaneously working to improve the education of Boston Public Schools students is such a fulfilling experience.  I always strive to serve to the best of my ability because I know the outcome of my work affects others, namely the thousands of students that benefit from our services!

Without question, my favorite part of the day is interviewing potential volunteers.  Each person has an interesting and unique story as to what interested them in Boston Partners’ volunteer opportunities.  The most exciting part of conducting interviews is that I never know what type of person I will be meeting next.  Our volunteers come from diverse backgrounds and bring a variety of experiences; often I am not simply screening potential volunteers, but also learning valuable life lessons.  I am so optimistic about the impact we make within the BPS because of my constant interaction with our amazing volunteers.

I also volunteer through Boston Partners myself.   I am a Math Rules! volunteer at the Mendell Elementary School and a School Volunteer Program Aim High volunteer at Boston International High School.  I enjoy helping students in both placements, and am glad to experience two different Boston Partners programs.  Working with 5th graders in Math is a far different experience than helping English Language Learners prepare for the English Language Arts MCAS test.  I believe my personal volunteer experience in our programs allows me to better address the questions and concerns of the hundreds of volunteers that I will place into the schools this year.

Alyssa working with her math mentees

I am so thankful to be part of such a great organization.  While my service here is only for this year, I know I will do my best to make the most of it!

20 Reasons to Send Flowers this March

Beginning today you can support Boston Partners in Education by sending flowers!  During the month of March, Winston Flowers will offer a custom Charity in Bloom floral arrangement designed exclusively for us.

For every Charity in Bloom arrangement purchased this month, Winston Flowers will donate twenty percent (20%) of the retail price to us! The arrangement is available at four different price points and can be ordered and sent out-of-state.

Last year, we raised nearly $20,000 through Charity in Bloom.  This year we are going for $30,000!

You might be surprised to find out that there are many holidays in March that you can celebrate by sending flowers.  Don’t believe us? Read on!

Holidays in March

March 1
The first day of Charity in Bloom!
March 2
Dr. Seuss’ birthday
National Employee Appreciation Day
March 3
National I Want You To Be Happy Day
March 8
International Working Women’s Day
National Be Grumpy Day (we do not condone this holiday)
March 9
Karleigh Rose Pettit’s birthday (our dedicated Power Lunch Manager)
Make up for National Be Grumpy Day
Did you take full advantage of National Be Grumpy Day? It’s time to make up for it now! With flowers!
March 15
National Incredible Kid Day
Tell your favorite kid (or all of your kids) how amazing they are.
March 16
National Everything You Do Is Right Day
What better way to send this message than with flowers?
March 17
St. Patrick’s Day
Judy Harrington’s Work-Anniversary (our dedicated Director of Development)
March 20
First Day of Spring!
National Proposal Day
If you’re thinking about proposing flowers would be a nice touch.
March 21
Single Parent’s Day
March 23
National Organize Your Home Office Day
You know what would look great in a well-organized office? A lovely bouquet of flowers!
March 26
National Make Up Your Own Holiday Day
March 27
National “Joe” Day
Do you know a Joe?  Send him flowers- it’s his day!
March 28
National Something On A Stick Day
Flowers are on a stick, or stem. (Ok, this one is a stretch.)
March 29
National Mom and Pop Business Owners Day
March 31
It’s the last day of March.  Who did you forget?

While it’s fun to receive flowers on holidays, it’s even better to receive flowers just because someone wants you to know you are special.  Who do you want to show they are special?  Send flowers!

An Athlete and a Scholar

Joseph Francois is truly both an athlete, and a scholar. A native of Haiti, Joseph moved to the United States in elementary school, without knowing any English.  Now he is a former basketball player and current member of the Excel High School varsity football team. He’s also taking AP Biology, has completed Honors Chemistry, and is working hard to be on the Honor Roll.

Matt & Joseph working on biology homework

One resource that he’s found extremely valuable in helping him to balance those equal yet seemingly disparate challenges is “The Zone.” Run by the Boston Scholar Athlete Program* (BSA), the Zone at Excel High School in South Boston is mandatory for all student athletes. “It’s not just for students who don’t have high GPAs. If you’re on a sports team, The Zone is for you,” said Chon’tel Washington, Zone Facilitator, of the Red & Blue Foundation who is onsite at Excel daily. The school sees The Zone as an extension of the teams. Boston Partners in Education has helped to supply volunteer academic mentors to BSA since the program started three years ago.

The Zone is a time and place for student athletes to do their homework, help their peers, or work with a tutor. Students are encouraged to request a tutor if they are struggling with a subject. This is exactly what Joseph has done for the past two years.

“Last year they had ‘The Zone’. I had a test in Honors Chemistry and I needed help. I did well on a test, so I knew that [getting a tutor] worked for me.” This year he worked with an academic mentor in biology. I asked him if many other students request volunteers for themselves. He said, “They don’t take the time to meet with a volunteer. They don’t see the benefit in it.”

Joseph does see the benefit, however, and even though the football season has ended, he keeps coming each week to work with his volunteer, Matt Kramer.

Sports are more than just a common interest that Joseph and Matt happen to share. Matt, a Harvard graduate, is a professional baseball player currently playing in the minor league for the Boston Red Sox. “I had a lot more free time now that school is finished. I always wanted to volunteer in college, but never had time for it. I have some free time now and a biology degree, so why not help?” said Matt. In his off season he trains six days a week, but still manages to find time to volunteer.

Joseph at the Celtics game

Joseph has invested a great amount off time and hard work on his own and with Matt that he hopes will be rewarded in the future. Something he didn’t expect from his investment, however, was that he’d have the opportunity to be a Ball Kid at a Boston Celtics game on February 15. We were so impressed by his dedication to his school work and athletics that we nominated him to participate in the second annual Mentoring Night at TD Garden. The Boston Celtics Shamrock Foundation (BCSF) and Mass Mentoring Partnership organized the evening for which BCSF donated more than 150 Celtics tickets to mentors and mentees from around Massachusetts. Joseph, in addition to being chosen as Ball Kid for the game, was able to participate in special pre-game opportunities.

We’re thrilled that Joseph was selected for the honor and we wish him well with the remainder of the school year.

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*Boston Scholar Athlete Program’s mission is to improve academic achievement through athletics in the Boston Public High Schools. This focus is based on the proven link between athletic participation and positive academic performance. BSA was created by Suffolk Construction’s Red & Blue Foundation.

Meet our 2012 Boston Marathon® Team

Stacey running 16 miles

Name: Stacey Best
Occupation: Attorney
Marathon Experience: 2011 Rock ‘n’ Roll Las Vegas Marathon
Training Tips: Patience, good nutrition and rest are essentials.
Favorite Ice Cream: Nona’s & Coldstone (anything with chunks of chocolate)
Favorite Pre-Run Meal: Spaghetti
What motivated you to run for Boston Partners in Education?
The education of children is an issue near and dear to my heart. I am particularly concerned about the achievement gap that children of color are experiencing. As an African American woman who has attained a post-secondary formal education, I am accepting of an obligation to help people of color succeed. As one of a few people of color that I see at road racing events, it is also an opportunity to draw attention to the health of both body and mind in the black community.
Make a donation to Stacey!

Marathon Runner, Teresa!

Name: Teresa Burke
Occupation: Bilingual/ESL teacher, co-founder of Hola La
Marathon Experience: This is my first one!
Other sports: Played college tennis at Villanova University
Training Tips: Rest days are important; run at a pace that is comfortable for you
Favorite Ice Cream: Ben & Jerry’s (Chubby Hubby)
Favorite Pre-Run Meal: Pasta
What motivated you to run for Boston Partners in Education?
I volunteered for Boston Partners in Education about 10 years ago in a bilingual school in East Boston. It was this experience that motivated me to pursue a teaching job as a bilingual teacher in Boston Public Schools. I have been working in the field of bilingual education ever since! I love the mission of Boston Partners and am excited to be working to raise money for this amazing organization.
Make a donation to Teresa!

Tinu running 16 miles

Name: Antinuke (Tinu) Diver
Occupation: Lawyer at a transportation research center; freelance writer of “Yes, We’re Together”
Past Races: 3K in North Carolina, Lawyers Have Heart 5K, ZUMIX Run to the Beat 5K
Marathon Experience: This is my first one!
Training Tips: Even when things become painful and uncomfortable, keep moving forward! Eventually the pain subsides and you realize you’ve arrived at your destination.
Favorite Ice Cream: JP Licks Coffee or Mint Oreo (with chocolate jimmies) & BoYo (Raspberry Lime Rickey)
Favorite Pre-Run Meal: Whole wheat spaghetti with red sauce & soy meatballs
What motivated you to run for Boston Partners in Education?
Two things motivated me to run for Boston Partners. First, is my connection with the organization which began when I moved to Boston in 2007. It was one of the first organizations I connected with as a volunteer. Second, the encouragement of my husband and my former boot camp instructor who ran the 2011 Marine Corps Marathon this past fall to celebrate her 61st birthday. She’s been a big inspiration.
Make a donation to Tinu!

Wrapping up National Mentoring Month

Cathleen & Camila, Hennigan Elementary School

January was National Mentoring Month and celebrating was a blast!  We shared many different perspectives about mentoring and even more were shared with us.  Between our blog, Facebook, and Twitter we heard from volunteers, teachers, parents, and students about what mentoring means and why it is so important.  We wanted to share some of what we heard this month with you!

A few of our Power Lunch students and volunteers drew what mentoring meant to them for Youth Mentoring Day on January 19.  Mass Mentoring Partnership created a scrapbook, “Mentoring Makes Me Feel…” with submissions from mentee/mentor matches from across the state.

We asked a few questions of our Twitter followers this month and we received some great responses:

@BostonPartners wants to know why do you mentor?

I mentor for moments like this morning when my mentee of 3 years looked up at me & said, “You’re my best friend.”

I mentor to share my love of reading and learning.

I mentor because it’s energizing! The potential I see is amazing.

Students inspire me & I hope I inspire them!

I mentor because the best learning is through teaching. And I love to learn.

I mentor because it gives me the opportunity to introduce a child into a world they’ve never seen before!

We just HAVE to know! What’s the funniest thing your mentee has ever said?

You know everything about Pokemon.
I bet you make, like, $1,000 a year.

In playing 20 questions, I had to guess “an old man with a big beard” – the answer: God.

Top might be the answer to what dolphin blood tastes like: Blueberries

How old are you? Sorry for asking. 25? Wow, that’s old.

The first ever “I Am A Mentor Social Media Day” on January 11 was a huge success!  Mentors from all across the country changed their Facebook profile photo to the Mentor badge and shared with the world why they spend time mentoring youth.

Rich Greif from Mass Mentoring Partnership shared his experience volunteering with us:

Did you also know I was a mentor for 4 years through Boston Partners in Education and my mentee Jamal J. is now a sophomore at UNH? Being a mentor has made me a better parent and advocate for education. You can make a difference in as little as an hour a week.

Lastly, we had a number of wonderful blog contributions this month.

Tuesday – the best day of the Week
This is a guest post written by School Volunteer Program volunteer, Kellyanne Dignan. She discusses why mentoring makes Tuesday her favorite day of the week.

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A Call for Bilingual Volunteers

One of our staff members, Carolina Davila wants to know, “How you are helping our future leaders?”

Carolina’s student was so excited about this post she shared it with her teacher, classmates, and parents.  All of the students in her class want an academic mentor now!

Spotlight On: Gardner Pilot Academy
The Gardner Pilot Academy has partnered with us for 13 years.  In this post we hear from the school and from a parent about why they love Power Lunch!

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Even though National Mentoring Month has come to an end, we’re still thinking about mentoring every day.  Thank you to everyone who shared their stories with us last month and please continue to tell us about your experiences with Boston Partners in Education and the Boston Public Schools.  We love to hear from you!

Spotlight On: Gardner Pilot Academy

For 13 years, Boston Partners in Education has brought Power Lunch to the students of the Gardner Pilot Academy (GPA). Every week volunteers from Abt Associates, The Bulfinch Companies, and Genzyme Corporation come to read to and mentor first-third grade students at the Allston school. In honor of National Mentoring Month we asked Lauren Fogarty, Director of Extended Learning Time at GPA, and Patricia Emery, mother of one of the Power Lunch Students, to tell us the impact that they see as a result of that dedication.

A Power Lunch student and his mentor are absorbed in the exciting adventures of Spiderman.

Lauren said:
“Power Lunch has been a tremendous opportunity for our students who are in need of positive mentors in their life. Students are individually selected for this program based on teacher nominations. The students who participate often lack positive role models in their life and/or can benefit from individual attention.

The impact of this program is apparent when you walk into a Power Lunch classroom and students are smiling, laughing, reading and talking with their mentors – when students are excitedly explaining to their teachers what they learned about their mentors. You see it especially when they are anticipating their day with their mentors. GPA looks forward to continuing this partnership which provides our students with the gift of mentoring.”

Patricia Emery wrote a note on her son Michael’s permission slip this past year – a note asking us to personally thank his Power Lunch mentor. After speaking to Patricia on the phone, it was clear that she saw real value in the time he spends with his mentor each Monday.

“Power Lunch has helped tremendously with Michael’s reading, but it has also improved his confidence and self-esteem.” She laughingly told us that he always knows when it is his Power Lunch day and that it is something he looks forward to every week.

Michael and his Power Lunch mentor from Abt Associates share a story over lunch at the Gardner Pilot Academy.

She demonstrated the impact the program has had on him with a story.

“Recently, Michael and I were riding on a bus to run some errands. It was a long ride and in the past Michael would complain about the trip. During this ride, however, he was particularly quiet and when I looked over to see why, it was because he was reading a book – I was shocked!”

Boston Partners in Education loves hearing stories like this one from everyone affected by our programs – whether it’s students, teachers, mentors or parents. National Mentoring Month has provided an opportunity to highlight some of the great work our volunteers do every week and we look forward to sharing more throughout the year.

A Call for Bilingual Volunteers

Recruitment & Big Cheese Reads Coordinator and School Volunteer Program volunteer Carolina Davila wants to know, “How you are helping our future leaders?”

As a Boston Public Schools alumna, my appreciation for education has truly grown since I graduated high school and college and stepped into the real world. I joined the Boston Partners in Education team back in September as a recent college graduate looking to face new challenges. As the Recruitment & Big Cheese Reads Coordinator, I’ve visited various schools throughout the city; an eye-opening experience after four years of absence. Through this lens I’ve gotten to see how beneficial these volunteers would’ve been to me as I went through middle school coming from Puerto Rico.

Carolina working with her mentee

My parents decided to enroll me in a mainstream English program at the Mary E. Curley (now the Curley K-8 School) instead of seeking bilingual support. I believed my knowledge of the English language from media exposure was more than enough for me to excel. Once in school, I realized there are no subtitles or rewind/pause buttons in real life. Despite my academic success, I second guessed myself. Even when I knew the answer, raising my hand to speak in class was not an option.  Working with a volunteer could have boosted my confidence.

I believe that having a Boston Partners in Education volunteer makes more than an academic impact on a student; it’s a growing experience for both parties. Academic mentors are members of the community who lend their time and effort to make a meaningful impact in a student’s life. A student who has an individual commit to them on a weekly basis respects that person in a different way. It’s respect that is earned rather than expected. The time spent with a student shows that a person cares and the relationship that is built can change the child’s perspective and feelings about education, success, and leadership.

Carolina working with her mentee

As a team, we put a lot of effort into finding, training, and matching the right volunteers with the right students – giving everyone a pleasant experience. As our community’s face continues to change, more and more bilingual support is needed for our students. I’m now an academic mentor through the School Volunteer Program to a BPS eighth grade girl. She’s pretty new to Boston, and her home language is Spanish. Through our similar stories, I hope to inspire her to be different, and make a change.

How are you helping our future leaders?