October's Literacy Leader:

Elizabeth Burns

- Hubbs Center, St. Paul

Many adults in America experience the challenges of learning a new language and adjusting to a new culture, which can be extremely difficult - and terrifying. That’s why we’re lucky to have people like Elizabeth Burns, who volunteer and work to lessen those challenges and to quell some of the fears associated with them.

Elizabeth came to St. Paul’s Hubbs Center after meeting Ruth Rodriguez, the Hubbs Center’s volunteer coordinator, at a University of Minnesota volunteer fair. Over the past two years, she’s had amazing success as a volunteer classroom assistant. As a result of Elizabeth's excellent volunteer experience, she was offered a work-study position at the Hubbs Center (an off-campus work-study site through the University of Minnesota). Through her volunteering, she has been able to grow, take on new responsibilities, and help support her own educational goals, as well.

Last year, Elizabeth volunteered in Mary Pat’s ELL class. Mary Pat says, “[Elizabeth] enters our classroom with her charming smile and amazing personality, and the heart of every learner in the room is captivated…she has a unique, humorous, yet quiet style that promotes others to listen to her ideas and wisdom.” With such a dynamic teaching assistant, it’s little wonder that over the past months, dozens of learners in her classes have shown marked improvements in attendance, attention to work, and test scores.

In a typical evening, Elizabeth meets with the teacher before class to discuss and review the lesson plan. She greets students as they filter in. Conversations are struck, jokes told, and while everyone catches up on each other’s dealings and current events, Elizabeth edges the discussion into alignment with the lesson plan. After that, she circulates the classroom, answering questions and helping students individually as needed.

When we asked Elizabeth what she likes best about her volunteer work, she emphasized the relationships she’s built with learners and the joy she gets from their successes. She says, “I love coming in week after week and being able to tell that they have learned something and have effectively used their new conversation skills or interview skills.”

An exemplary adult literacy volunteer, Elizabeth has earned the respect and admiration of the students she serves and has inspired those she works with. “We all have an impact on each other’s lives,” she says. “I am so glad to be a part of their journey here at Hubbs.”