By Ava Millstone

Bryan Harris; Courtesy of Author

On the evening of Sept. 10, the most beautiful thing at the Wharf offices wasn’t the magnificent sunset dipping into the Washington Channel. It was the 32 community members who met with SWNA’s Education & Scholarship Task Force to learn about volunteering with the Amidon-Bowen Tutoring program. Because the program has gained so much community support, this year tutoring will be expanding to 2nd-5th graders (from only 3rd graders last year) and will include tutoring in reading, as well as math.

Presenters at the meeting included the program’s founder, Robert St. Cyr; Amidon-Bowen’s Math Interventionist, Kayla Winters; 4th grade student, Tatiana Morillo-Torres and parent, April McCoy. Tatiana spoke of the confidence she gained by participating in the program, and Ms. McCoy spoke about how happy she was to see her son Joshua’s progress and success in math this year as a result of his tutoring sessions. 

Read more below about Amidon-Bowen Tutor of the Month: Bryan Harris. If you feel inspired, it’s not too late to get involved. Please email friends@communityscholar.org for more information and to sign up. 

How long have you lived in SW? 

I have lived in SW for thirteen years. I live in DC for three days during the week and commute to Virginia Beach for the remainder of the time.

What do you do in your professional life? 

I work for the US Postal Service—Headquarters in Washington, DC. I manage Continuity of Operations, ensuring that all postal activities continue in the face of all hazards and emergent events. 

What made you get involved in the tutoring program at Amidon-Bowen? 

I believe that the youth of today are the future leaders. Scripture tells us that if we train a child in the way they should go—when they grow older, they will not turn from it (Proverbs 22:6). It is our obligation to ensure that we prepare them for the road ahead by training them effectively, arming them with the tools necessary to achieve success in life.

Describe your favorite moment so far from the program. 

One of my favorite moments is when Tatiana asked if one her classmates could join our session because she saw the progress Tatiana was making. This was rewarding for me and speaks volumes about the tutoring program. 

What is one thing you enjoy, appreciate or respect about your students? 

I respect that despite going to a full day of classes, the kids are eager to invest a little more time after class to continue to grow and learn.

Why should other SW community members consider joining the program as tutors next year?  

The kids love it, and the teachers appreciate the added support. The program and materials are easy to follow and provide the refreshers necessary to bring those of us who have been out of school for a while up to speed.


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