Our Impact

Ravenswood Classroom Partners has consistently provided reliable, trained volunteers for the last thirteen years. Our success is measured by the improved individual reading scores as well as the touching handwritten thank you notes from the students and teachers.

By the Numbers
Our programs have the scale to make a real difference in improving academic outcomes and supporting overall student success. Many
of our volunteers take on multiple assignments each week. Our 2021-22 school year stats show the depth of our programs:

400 Students served in all our programs

23 Teachers supported

130 Volunteers

200 Tutoring hours donated per week

7000 Tutoring sessions per year

Student Comments
How do you know your tutor cares about you? "She teaches me to read and write and she talks to me about lots of things."

Working with my tutor makes me feel....? "I feel happy because you helped me learn more."

"The book club helped me to learn to reach out for help."

"I made a friend in the Book Club. We have each other's backs."

“... she takes her time to teach us and comes and helps us with reading and writing. She also supports us and comforts us when we’re down.”

Annual Teacher Survey and Teacher Comments
2021-22 was a school year of challenges with the pandemic. Even so, our teachers recognized the value of our volunteers' efforts. Of those surveyed:
   89% said students made academic progress
   73% said students' confidence and self-esteem grew
   92% said time spent in tutoring was effective

Some teacher quotes from our surveys describe our impact:
"I love my RCP volunteers! They are amazing, reliable, communicative."

"The work RCP does is invaluable and extends my impact to 3x's more students."

"The added 1:1 attention, support and coaching are invaluable."

"My volunteers are amazing! They work so hard with my kids."

"All my students who work with the volunteers have progressed. Some have moved up several reading levels!"

Volunteer Comments
"I love it when the light bulb goes on!"

"Running a book club was so amazing! This is my favorite volunteer experience that I've ever done."

"I love the feeling of positively impacting a child's day, their academic progress and self-confidence."

"There’s no bigger impact, that’s why I do it.”

"I love the excitement of the students to learn and work with me."

"The format of the Book Club allowed the students to quickly feel relaxed and safe to share personal struggles. It was amazing to witness such bravery, bonding and soothing support."

See our volunteers stories below and at the end of most of our web pages to learn more about our volunteers and their experiences. We have even more stories under About Us - see the Volunteer Stories tab.

Principal Comment
"Ravenswood Classroom Partners volunteers have become a part of our school family. They have integrated themselves to be part of every classroom. Some have even been with the same teacher for multiple years or followed their students to the next grade level.

"Our students look forward to working with them weekly on their literacy, math, and social emotional skills. It is evident in the way our students perform that our volunteers make a difference. Our students' confidence and willingness to try comes from the attention they receive from our volunteers. We are extremely grateful and thankful that Ravenswood Classroom Partners has built a strong relationship with our school, students, and staff."

Michelle Masuda, Principal of Belle Haven School

Superintendent Comment
"Thank you, Ravenswood Classroom Partners volunteers, for your support and dedication to our students and instructional program! Your commitment is critical during this time as we reconfigure and redesign our elementary schools.

"Students and their families will either move to a new school community or welcome a new school community. Where our students attend, I guarantee you will be needed! The individual tutoring you provide to students makes a tremendous difference and will be instrumental to ensure the future success of every student."

Gina Sudaria, Superintendent

Juliana Andersen

As a former teacher, RCP volunteer Juliana thinks it’s especially rewarding to work one-on-one with students, getting to know them and building a strong rapport. “I love working with the kids, establishing a connection with them and seeing their progress throughout the year.”

Juliana has been able to work with one student in particular for 3 years at Costaño School in East Palo Alto. This student opens up to her about her friends and how school is going. Due to their strong connection, the student lets Juliana know which academic areas she wants help with and this enables Juliana to focus her tutoring and mentoring in the areas that matter most to the student.

Lori Brockman

Lori started volunteering with RCP when parent volunteers were no longer needed in her youngest child’s classroom. She says, “The best part is feeling like I am making a difference in a bigger community than just my home and with my kids.”

Lori has built a special relationship with a student named Amir (not pictured). She began working with him in 3rd grade and continues to work with him in the 6th grade this year. Amir had social difficulties with peers and teachers and had trouble focusing and following through. Lori has helped him with his focus and learning habits. Lori works on math, reading, writing, and the two talk about whatever is going on in Amir’s life both at school and at home.