Caroline Kennedy Addresses Learning Leaders
by Sarah N. Lynch

When Sanford Schwartz retired from Revlon about 10 years ago, he wanted to contribute to his community. Schwartz, of Queens, decided to volunteer by tutoring first graders at PS 169 in Bay Terrace, Queens through Learning Leaders (LL), and Schwartz still enjoys every minute of it. “I like children and I wanted to help,” Schwartz said. “There are always a group in the class that has some problems, and giving them attention on a one to one basis has truly helped them.”

Schwartz was one of about 2,000 volunteers to attend the opening meeting of Learning Leaders at the Sheraton Hotel recently. Caroline Kennedy, CEO of the Office of Strategic Partnerships, delivered a keynote address encouraging Learning Leader volunteers to maintain their support for public schools.

“Thank you for the example you set and the work you are doing,” Kennedy said to the enthusiastic crowd. “We’ve embarked on many reforms and initiatives: new curriculum, new organization and making principals more successful. Education begins in the classroom with the teacher, and we need an entire city to support that.” Kennedy added, “When an adult believes in a child, that child can fulfill his dreams.”

The meeting kicked off with a message from president Digna Sánchez, who thanked the volunteers for their hard work and dedication. “I can’t emphasize enough, or find the best words to describe how energized I feel about being at the helm of Learning Leaders, at a time of such hope-filled changes in our public schools,” Sánchez said in her opening remarks. “Someone asked me how I would describe the magic of Learning Leaders. It’s not magic. I would say there is beauty in the commitment made by eleven thousand six hundred adult, parent and community volunteers.” Among the prominent attendees applauding the volunteers were Cynthia Greenleaf Fanton, trustee of Learning Leaders; Iris Weinshall Schumer, Commissioner of the NYC Department of Transportation and Vice-Chair of the Board of Trustees of LL; Allen Gomez, VP and Corporate Giving Manager, Washington Mutual; Betsy Gotbaum, Public Advocate; and Randi Weingarten, President of the UFT.

Founded in 1956, LL is a program that trains volunteers to help tutor children in all subject areas and grade levels. It provides services to 175,000 New York City public school students in a total of 850 schools citywide. The meeting served not only to thank volunteers for their dedication, but also to praise corporations for their financial support including Washington Mutual, who has recently given $1.2 million to education with a commitment spanning 75-80 years. As well as Merrill Lynch. In addition, Sánchez announced that this year Learning Leaders will add learning materials in Cantonese and Mandarin in addition to the materials in English and Spanish.

Volunteers who attended the event said they were excited to begin the new school year. Nigel Grant, a Learning Leaders volunteer from the Bronx, is studying to become a teacher at CUNY. He hopes he can make a difference at PS 126 where he works with children aged 7 though 11. But Grant said that Learning Leaders does not just benefit children—it also helps the teachers as well.

“Most teachers are dealing with 30-40 kids on a daily basis,” he said. “They need assistance, whether it’s teaching, helping around the classroom or talking to parents.” But most importantly, Grant wants to make an impact on children’s lives. “We need teachers to instill in the kids a sense of pride—a sense of belonging, the need to be loved and appreciated,” he said. “The world is a big place and they have a lot of choices, but they can be anything—anything they want to be.”#

Sarah N. Lynch is a senior at Barnard College and an intern at Education Update.

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