At Verner Center for Early Learning teachers strive to always create an environment of comfortableness and ease, whatever may be happening. Tranquility is restored soon after any disruption. But this comfortable feeling comes with teamwork and dedication. The teachers work closely with volunteers and students to make their classroom run smoothly. A perfect example of the team player at Verner is a volunteer at East named Allison Wilde. She comes three times a week to rock the babies and comfort them.
After a year plus she has become an invaluable part of the team. She’s comfortable and happy to read with her young friends, sit with them when they’re crying, play with them outside, and whatever else they may choose to do as she encourages them to grow. The infants know her by heart and get very excited when she walks into the classroom.
I had the chance to interview Allison while she was sitting with one of the infants. It was heartwarming to see how attentive and caring Allison was to the child on her lap. Allison is a mother herself, and recently became a grandmother. She says that getting to volunteer with these children reminds her of the granddaughter she wishes she could see more often.
Allison was a social worker before she volunteered with Verner. She was a grief counselor at a school in Texas, and she also worked in long-term care. The skills that she developed as a social worker and as a mother helped her transition perfectly into her volunteer position at Verner, which she found through VolunteerMatch. She told me she had driven by the center before, and when she saw it online she knew there was no better choice.
We had the chance to talk about the wonderful things that she’s gotten to learn about working with the teachers in early childhood education. Something that impressed her the most is that they use sign language, which means that children and teachers as well as volunteers are able to communicate with the children pre-verbally, which helps the transition into using their language skills. Verner has a philosophy that focuses on thoughtfulness which extends not only to the children, but the volunteers and teachers too.
Volunteering at Verner also means that Allison gets to look beyond herself and do something for the community, something that is highly valued amongst the people that surround and make up this center. She told me there’s a sense of altruism that comes from thinking of someone other than oneself. As a volunteer she is there to be of service, and to do whatever is needed. The teachers told me that her position is a very special one, and her willingness to help is an important component of their classroom.
To those considering volunteering with Verner, Allison says that working with the children has broadened her horizons. It is fascinating to see how self-sufficient they can be even at such a young age. Her advice would be to trust the teachers, because they know what is needed.
After a year plus she has become an invaluable part of the team. She’s comfortable and happy to read with her young friends, sit with them when they’re crying, play with them outside, and whatever else they may choose to do as she encourages them to grow. The infants know her by heart and get very excited when she walks into the classroom.
I had the chance to interview Allison while she was sitting with one of the infants. It was heartwarming to see how attentive and caring Allison was to the child on her lap. Allison is a mother herself, and recently became a grandmother. She says that getting to volunteer with these children reminds her of the granddaughter she wishes she could see more often.
Allison was a social worker before she volunteered with Verner. She was a grief counselor at a school in Texas, and she also worked in long-term care. The skills that she developed as a social worker and as a mother helped her transition perfectly into her volunteer position at Verner, which she found through VolunteerMatch. She told me she had driven by the center before, and when she saw it online she knew there was no better choice.
We had the chance to talk about the wonderful things that she’s gotten to learn about working with the teachers in early childhood education. Something that impressed her the most is that they use sign language, which means that children and teachers as well as volunteers are able to communicate with the children pre-verbally, which helps the transition into using their language skills. Verner has a philosophy that focuses on thoughtfulness which extends not only to the children, but the volunteers and teachers too.
Volunteering at Verner also means that Allison gets to look beyond herself and do something for the community, something that is highly valued amongst the people that surround and make up this center. She told me there’s a sense of altruism that comes from thinking of someone other than oneself. As a volunteer she is there to be of service, and to do whatever is needed. The teachers told me that her position is a very special one, and her willingness to help is an important component of their classroom.
To those considering volunteering with Verner, Allison says that working with the children has broadened her horizons. It is fascinating to see how self-sufficient they can be even at such a young age. Her advice would be to trust the teachers, because they know what is needed.