Volunteer tutors honored for helping Poway Unified kids

Seniors Helping Our Kids and OASIS tutors at Poway Unified schools were honored on May 12 for their years of volunteer efforts.

SHOK/OASIS Coordinator Jane Radatz said the program had 250 volunteers working at 24 campuses this academic year as reading tutors, classroom helpers and ballroom dance teachers. Of these, 27 were recognized for volunteering five, 10, 15, 20 or 25 years.

Over the past decade, the ballroom dance teachers have instructed more than 20,000 fifth graders in “the basic steps and etiquette of ballroom dancing as a way to build their social skills and their confidence in their ability to take on and master something new,” she said.

According to Radatz, SHOK was founded a quarter-century ago by Elaine Usell and Phyllis Comer at the then-Rancho Bernardo Joslyn Center (now Ed Brown Center for Active Adults). Comer coordinated the program during its first dozen years. After she retired, Radatz succeeded her.

Of the initial group of volunteers, only Bob Stevens is still active. He was presented an award during the ceremony for his 25 years of continuous volunteerism to area students.

Also recognized were Virginia Gray (20 years); Richard Mason, Jane Moran and Norma Wendleton (all 15 years); Bruce Brown, Madeline Carmichael, Walter Claasen, Marsha Franklin, Nancy Higbie and Richard Komorosky (all 10 years); and Pat Blazick, Jan Christensen, Jean Davis, Jim Flynn, Craig Graham, Sandi Hanafin, Jo Ann Harvey, Fred MacDougall, Beth Mather, Carol Nelson, Susan Parsons, Mary Patrick, Bea Raines, Gloria Renas, Jan Semerad and Pam Warnock (all five years).

Joining Radatz in the awards presentation at Westwood Elementary in Rancho Bernardo were Eric Lehew representing Poway Unified School District and John Dunnicliff representing the OASIS Tutoring organization.

Anyone — especially retirees — interested volunteering as a SHOK/OASIS tutor for the 2016-17 academic year can contact Radatz at jradatz@att.net or 858-485-5449. Tutors do not need to have any teaching experience, are trained for free and pick the campus, day and time convenient to them.

To cover expenses, the organization holds an annual luncheon fundraiser at Outback Steakhouse in Poway.