Learning Leaders

Started in 1956 as the New York City School Volunteer Program with 20 volunteers, Learning Leaders has grown to 14,863 volunteers in 967 schools. It recruits, trains and supports more than 15,000 school volunteers working with over 235,000 New York City public school students. Learning Leaders was begun as the first program of its kind in the country and is now a national leader in this field.

Clara Blitzer, a member of the board of the Public Education Association (PEA), founded this program. In 1970, it was incorporated as a not-for-profit organization. This organization raises 85% of its total fund from corporations, foundations and individuals. It is also supported by the New York City Department of Education and the New York City Council.

The main goal of Learning Leaders is to help the students of New York City public schools achieve success by training volunteers to provide tutoring as well as other school-related support. Besides, it also equips parents to look after the educational development of their children. Learning Leaders trains volunteers to work with students in every grade ranging from pre-kindergarten to high school in reading, mathematics and other subjects. It also prepares students in higher grades for various critical examinations and assists them with college planning and monetary aid.

Learning Leaders’ volunteers help students experience success and acquire confidence in their own abilities. The expertise, scope, experience and cost-effectiveness of Learning Leaders prove to be an excellent contribution to the city and its children. Besides, parents also take up the volunteer training to teach their children at home, pursue their own educational as well as career goals and move into leadership positions at their children’s schools. Apart from parents, volunteers also include business people who wish to prepare a proficient labor force, college students, retired people with experience garnered over a lifetime which they can share, as well as other community members. Among the organization’s volunteers, 79% are parents.

Every volunteer offers a minimum of two hours of service per week at a school close to his/her home or place of work. Each volunteer is screened and gets training from Learning Leaders’ professional staff of field-based coordinators. In addition, Learning Leaders also provides children books, learning games and various other teaching materials, which help both volunteers as well as children to work together. Presently, Learning Leaders’ volunteers help around a quarter of a million children achieve success and confidence.