After 25 years as an attorney for the State of California, Roslyn was ready for something new. Over the course of her legal career, she worked in nearly every area of government law. “You name it, I did it,” she says.” But when she left state service, she knew one thing for certain: education would be a part of her next chapter.
Today, you can find Roslyn serving as a Reading Corps tutor in Sacramento, California — at a school just down the street from her home.
The Transition from Attorney to Tutor
During the COVID-19 pandemic, Roslyn’s daughter experienced challenges in school. Like so many families, they turned to tutoring for support. Watching her child regain confidence and skills opened her eyes to just how transformative individualized support can be.
Around the same time, parents in her local school community were advocating for more reading help. Roslyn hadn’t heard of Reading Corps before, but she was glad to hear that a solution was already in motion. “I was really impressed that they came up with this solution for addressing reading in our school district,” she notes. The opportunity felt personal — and local.
But it wasn’t simply personal reasons that drew her in; it was academic, too. Roslyn liked the science behind the program. “I was interested in the science of reading, so I was interested in the training. Like, okay, so how are we going to get these kids to read?” The evidence-based approach gave her confidence that the time she invested with students would lead to measurable growth.
For Roslyn, Reading Corps has also been a meaningful bridge into the education field. She hopes to one day teach at a community college and has even completed a certificate program in online instruction to stay competitive. She appreciates that tutoring has provided an opportunity to gain experience and be part of a bigger mission.
“One of the things I like about Reading Corps is that when you’re on the school site, you get to see all the various roles that you can have,” Roslyn explains. “There’s all kinds of support roles on campus, and you get to experience school life as a helper on campus.”
Immediate Impact
Roslyn tutors kindergarten through second-grade students, and she lights up when talking about them. “I love the kiddos,” she shares. “They’re super sweet.” Still, some students face challenges, and sessions don’t always go as planned. One morning, she worked with a student who was in tears. Instead of diving into the lesson, they talked and took their time. With encouragement and care, the student felt ready to work. It’s moments like these that capture what makes tutoring so meaningful. Being a supportive adult who can offer the extra time needed to succeed makes all the difference.
The enthusiasm for the program is contagious, too. “The students look forward to seeing us,” Roslyn says. “The ones who aren’t in the program are interested in their turn, like ‘When do I get a turn?’”
Beyond student growth, Roslyn values the partnership with school staff. “I have thought highly of the teachers and administrators we work with. They do a really good job,” she says. She’s seen firsthand the dedication educators bring to their students and is grateful to support their efforts by providing additional focused, one-on-one attention.
A Future in Education
Roslyn already knows she’ll return for another year of service through AmeriCorps. Continuing with Reading Corps will allow her to deepen her experience in education while she explores future opportunities at the community college level.
For Roslyn, tutoring isn’t just a steppingstone — it’s preparation with purpose. Each session strengthens not only her students’ reading skills, but also her own path toward becoming an educator in higher learning.
If you’re inspired by Roslyn’s journey, consider serving as a tutor with Reading Corps! Schools across the country are looking for caring adults ready to make a difference. Visit Join.ReadingandMath.org to learn more and find an opportunity near you.