Tutor

Volunteers are an essential part of the Ulster Literacy Association story.  Our mission is supported by a dedicated network of individuals donating their time as tutors, intake and assessment coordinators, and office administrators. 

Computers are part of the learning experience.

A number of volunteers offer their professional skills to ULA, as well.

Our volunteer tutors, like our students, come from a variety of backgrounds.  No teaching experience is necessary.  Our tutors come from more than 44 Ulster County communities.  They are men and women, retired and employed.  The more than 200 tutors working with our students now are accountants, bakers, chefs, lawyers, nurses, lawyers, teachers, and more.

If you are interested in sharing your love of reading and writing with an eager and motivated student, then we need your help.

Many of our tutors find the role as tutor to be rewarding, interesting and satisfying.

Prospective tutors

To become a tutor, one needs to be a high school graduate or hold a GED (General Education Diploma) and be 18 years of age.  New tutors complete an 18-hour certification course before being paired with a student.  Ulster Literacy Association's certification of new tutors carries with it certification by ProLiteracy Worldwide (a merger of the former organizations Laubach Literacy Action and Literacy Volunteers of America).

Workshops

Our workshops train adult volunteers to work in a one-to-one tutoring situation with adults who want to improve their reading, writing, and communication skills.

Photo by Joyce Nicol

April 2010 Tutor Workshop graduates.
Standing (left to right): Beatrice Conover, Gayle Schumacher, Sam Crow, Susan Scher, James McGowan, Mary Beth Rogers
Seated (left to right): Judy LeFevre, Lois Ostapczuk (apprentice trainer), Corinne Boughton, Lawraine Vallee

The workshops include methods and materials, cultural considerations, and discussions concerning the typical needs of persons seeking literacy assistance.  At the training sessions, you will also have the opportunity to meet others who share that interest in volunteer work.

The Tutor Training Workshop is 18 hours long and is scheduled several times a year - typically in January, April, May, July, September, and October at the ULA office.  Our training is held in the following session formats: three consecutive Saturdays, Tuesday/Thursday evenings, and occasionally three-consecutive-weekdays.  The schedule of upcoming workshops can be found on our Events page.

Photo by Emanuel Vavolizza

March 2010 Tutor Workshop graduates.
Front: Bev Rigney, Nancy Morrish, John Butnor, Edee Butnor, Barbara Ghebreselassie
Rear: Paula Sirc, Debra Shaw, Jean McGrane, Leslie Przekop, Maryann Becker, Jiyl Welch

There is a fee of $30 to cover the cost of material and handouts.  To sign up for a workshop, print out a Tutor Application form to mail to us, or call us at (845) 331-6837.

Current tutors

Once a tutor has completed training, we encourage them to commit to working with their student for at least a year.

Tutors meet with their student in a public place once or twice a week for at least an hour a session.  Meeting times can be weekdays, weekends, days or evenings.  Arrangements are made to fit both the tutor and the student's availability.

Our staff is available to answer any questions tutors, current and prospective, may have regarding the tutoring process/experience.

Forms and resources:

• Monthly Report form (.pdf, for printing), (.rtf, for editing and emailing)
• Ulster County libraries

By giving your time, you will not only make a difference in the lives of others, you will help yourself.  National researchers and psychologists have found that those volunteer experience improved health and increased life expectancy.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: What does it take to be a literacy tutor?

A: Our tutors come from all walks of life.  The only requirement to become a tutor is a high school diploma and completion of our free, 18-hour training course.  ULA provides accredited tutor-training workshops many times throughout the year.

Q: How successful is Ulster Literacy Association's (ULA) program given that tutors are unpaid volunteers?

A: Amazingly successful.  In addition to improving their communication skills, hundreds of our adult reading and writing students have gone on to pursue further education, obtain or upgrade jobs, and gain financial independence.