Announcements

For more than a dozen years, she has touched countless lives. She has taught English to students from 14 countries, mentored fellow volunteers and assessed dozens of potential new adult learners.  As a passionate teacher and fierce defender of underserved members of our community, she has helped numerous people improve their lives through literacy. For these reasons and many more, Tammy Westmark received the statewide Volunteer Excellence Award from Literacy New Jersey.

Tammy completed her tutor training with LVSC in 2014 and has been working with students ever since. After working for three years with individual students, Tammy turned her attention to small-group tutoring with a focus on beginner-level ESL students - her true calling. Tammy during a virtual tutoring session.

Tammy cares deeply for her students and they love her. She makes each feel comfortable and confident. She gives every student a starter kit of supplies which she hand-delivers. During the pandemic, she brought groceries to students facing food insecurity. And I can’t count how many times she has inquired about connecting her students to local resources in areas of immigration support, affordable healthcare and job placement.
-Aimee Lam, LVSC Executive Director

Tammy’s students are all extremely grateful for her time and patience. Many of her students have performed better at their jobs, or gotten better jobs, because of her tutoring and mentoring. One student was named McDonald’s Employee of the Month, selected by her manager, who was impressed by her improved ability to communicate with customers.

Tammy accepting her award.Tammy said she gets just as much from her tutoring experience as she gives:

I get to tutor the most wonderful, awe-inspiring people from all over the world. I get to have my mind opened up to new cultures and traditions. I get to discover every week that what we have in common is so much greater than our differences. I get to witness the generational effect we are having. For my students, the American Dream is an aspirational goal that may not be in reach for themselves, but through their many sacrifices it is possible for their children.

Tammy always treats her students with respect and kindness. She is tough but empathetic. She understands their limitations and struggles but also has high expectations and expects them to meet them. She cheers their successes. Tammy also relishes the relationships she has built with fellow tutors:

I get to work with other tutors who share my values and my commitment to playing a small part in making our students’ lives a bit easier. When the situation in our country feels a bit hopeless, I know I can always drop in to the LVSC office. I always leave feeling more inspired, more hopeful, and more confident that what we are doing is having a huge impact in changing our students’ lives.

Tammy, center, surrounded by LVSC staff and fellow volunteers.We are grateful for Tammy’s many, many hours of service and commitment to LVSC. Congratulations Tammy, on this well-deserved recognition from our statewide organization, Literacy New Jersey!