Category: Life at Saga

As a Black male math teacher, Horace Buddoo was a self-described “unicorn.” He taught high-level math for a predominately Latinx student population, but he really saw himself as a “life teacher,” mentor and role model to students who didn’t like math.

 Before Saga said goodbye to its Fellows, we asked them what they learned from their students, what advice they would give to new Fellows, and what were their most memorable parts of their experience. Here’s what they had to say about being an AmeriCorps member serving Saga.

Makala Gage, an AmeriCorps member serving with Saga Education, is back. This three-time tutor served first as a remote tutor at Farragut Career Academy in Chicago, IL, then as an in-person tutor at the same school, and this year, she’s coming back to Little Village Lawndale High School in Chicago to tutor her students in person—again.

 At Saga Education, each school site (whether in-person or virtual) has a Site Director. The Site Director drives student learning in Saga Math Lab by consistently improving the effectiveness of tutorials for the students that we serve. 

I joined Saga because I believe high-quality education should be accessible to everyone. I grew up in a low-income area, but I was fortunate enough to have so much support throughout my education that I was able to succeed academically, and I want to be that beacon of support for our students.

One of the things about high-impact tutoring online is that students have the opportunity to get a sneak peek into the lives of their tutors. Kimarie, a ninth grader from Anacostia High School in Washington DC, got to meet his tutor’s dog.