Volunteer Spotlight: Sally Z
We are excited to highlight Sally Z. as our volunteer spotlight this month. Sally has been a volunteer at Literacy Source for the last 4 years and has successfully tried her hand at a number of roles. Currently she facilitates one of our conversation classes at the center, is a conversation partner at the New Holly library class, and tutors a student in the ESOL 3 class! We deeply appreciate her commitment, thoughtfulness, and willingness to help.
1. Where are you originally from? If you’re not from Seattle what brought you here?
I grew up in southern Illinois (north of St. Louis) - on the banks of the muddy Mississippi River, in the heart of the rust belt. I moved to Seattle with my husband in 1990 to take advantage of the natural beauty, favorable climate, diverse culture, and tech boom after living in Boston, New Hampshire and a short time France.
2. Please share something of your life so far and what you would like to do in the future.
After my first career in marketing, I took time off to raise my two beautiful daughters (ages 31 and 27). When they were ready to leave the nest, I got my Masters in Education Psychology/Learning Sciences and Human Development with a concentration in Multicultural Education from UW and my certification in Teaching English as a Second Language through S-TESL/SPU/SU.
3. Why did you choose to volunteer at LS?
I started volunteering at Literacy Source in Teacher Megan’s Zoom class during covid. Literacy Source was one of the first ESL programs to pivot with a strong online presence while the others had to close their doors temporarily due to the pandemic.
4. What do you like about volunteering at LS?
I feel grateful to be a part of this community. I have learned so much and have met so many wonderful people at Literacy Source. The teachers, staff, and volunteers are knowledgeable, thoughtful and conscientious. The online and in-person trainings, resources, and volunteer support are unsurpassed. Volunteers are truly valued and have the opportunity to learn and grow at Literacy Source.
5. Any stories or highlights from volunteering at LS?
Students from around the world are our lifeblood. Each and every student – from Nicaragua, Venezuela and Mexico, to Afghanistan, Libya, Ethiopia and Eritrea, all the way to Hong Kong, Russia, and Ukraine - has been such a source of inspiration and joy for me. I love having conversations with and learning from our students about so many interesting topics – from art, music, nature, hobbies and current events to more practical topics such as going to the doctor or the pharmacy, talking with teachers, or finding items in the grocery store.
6. What might people not know about you?
When I was young, I dreamed joining the Peace Corps or starting a school in Africa. That didn’t happen, so now we have our own United Nations right here in Lake City.
Here is what our instructors and her colleagues have to say about working with Sally:
Sally is accommodating and caring toward every student's needs. She pays attention to details in a lesson and is very thoughtful in her teaching approach. She is always a pleasure to work with!
~ Megan D.
Sally and I co-lead the in-person conversation class. She’s one of the most competent and dedicated people I’ve had the pleasure to work with. She brings a warm and welcoming presence to the classroom which, in turn, fosters trust among the students and good camaraderie among our volunteer team. I appreciate her insights about the students, and the effort she makes to customize lesson planning around their needs and interests. I know they appreciate her as much as I do!
~ Cynthia P.
Sally cares so much about each lesson she prepares for SPL Conversation Circles. One time, the topic was "Spring", and she brought flowers and leaves and branches from her garden for everyone. For the topic of shopping, she made a bag for each group with receipts, coupons, and products with price tags. She always provides special tactile experiences with materials related to the topic.
~ Laura K.