AOK Mentor/Tutor, Theresa, shared her experience with AOK in a recent retiree newsletter for her prior employer.

Below is what she wrote to her former colleagues.

Thank you, Theresa, for spreading the word about AOK Mentoring & Tutoring!



​After seeing so many former colleagues at the holiday luncheon, I was struck by some of the amazing things people are doing in retirement. One thing we tend to have more of in retirement is time. While quite a few continue to work after their government careers, a lot of us are enjoying the time to pursue interests and hobbies.

Another area where we might have more time to spend is in volunteering. Reading a recent Washington Post article (https://www.washingtonpost.com/dc-md-va/2023/12/09/volunteer-decline-homeless-pandemic/) brought the need for volunteers into focus. I know many are already volunteering but If you haven’t thought about sharing your time and talents, perhaps you might consider doing so. There are so many ways to contribute in meaningful ways and all of us have developed skills and have ample experience where we can make quite a difference.
 
For myself, I knew I wanted to give back at the elementary school where I didn’t have time to do more than the occasional field trip or in-room help when my children were young. I was interested in tutoring and learned that [there were only a few organizations partnered with schools in Howard County who serve any child in need of academic or social support] – AOK Mentoring & Tutoring (https://www.aokmentor.org/) is one of them.

After fingerprinting, a background check, and a training session (so much for thinking I was done with all that!), I was matched up with a child who needed some extra help. It didn’t require a huge time investment (only one meeting a week), but it made a big difference to the child’s academic and social skills.

​Since then, I’ve worked with as many as three children during a school year providing one-on-one support. You can stay with a child from year to year if that works for the both of you. I like the idea of making a difference in a child’s life when they’re young for the long-lasting effects it might have. And being on a school schedule (including those lovely snow days!) leaves plenty of time throughout the year for travel or other pastimes… 

Learn More about becoming a volunteer mentor/tutor today at:​AOKmentor.org/volunteer

I would like to say hello and express how proud I am to be a part of this organization as it celebrates its 20th year. As Secretary of the Board, I have spent the past 3 years assisting with our rebranding and strengthening our message and presence on the internet.

You can now explore who we are, what we do, what we hope to accomplish, and where we have been at www.aokmentor.org!

I continue to be a Registered Nurse of 49 years with a Masters in Community Health. Early in my School Nursing career, I achieved National School Nurse Certification which I now hold Emeritus status (NCSN-E). Five years ago, I retired as a School Nurse after 14 years in Howard and Baltimore County, but I still felt the need to engage with the education system. I found an ad in my village center newsletter in January. AOK was quick to respond to my inquiry and I was trained and assigned to my first student by March. My mentoring was cut short by the pandemic and my student did not want to continue into 6th grade, but there was a commitment to a purpose as I grew more active within the Board.

Our mission is strong as we commit ourselves to ALL OUR KIDS (AOK) in the Howard County Public Schools as our mentors provide ongoing support to enhance academic, social, and emotional development. I strongly believe that the education of children in our community belongs to all of us and it’s important that we do all that we can as an organization to connect
those that can with those that need. Won’t you join us in accomplishing that goal?
​
Donna Lyman, MS, RN, NCSN-E
​Board Secretary, AOK Mentoring & Tutoring