Category: Life at Saga

Being a tutor is not just a job, but a transformative journey filled with learning, growth, and impact. It empowers students, hones teaching skills, and fosters connections. Tutoring is a catalyst for positive change in education. Read how former Saga Leadership Fellow Kenzie Confer embarked on a transformative journey that enriched the lives of her students and herself.

Former Saga Education tutor Caitlin Hentish wasn't always sure she wanted to be a teacher. Despite her passion for learning and desire to be a positive influence, concerns about being a teacher steered her away for a while. But Caitlin never stopped learning herself, nor did she lose sight of her passion for helping others learn.

Ricardo Sanchez, a student from Chicago’s Latino Youth Connection Charter School, is on his way to college. He is grateful to everyone who has supported him, including his AmeriCorps member and math tutor from Saga Education.

When it comes to solving problems, it helps to know that someone is there for support and encouragement. That goes for math, too. When students work together and challenge each other, math can be like a team sport, instead of an internal struggle.

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.