Meet a volunteer: George Kelly
“I have never had the opportunity to thank SF School Volunteers for sending
such a gift to me,” says first grade teacher Leanne Francis of her volunteer,
George Kelly. “I had no idea [when George came to my classroom] what it
would mean for me or countless students over the years,” Leanne says.
“The efforts and output of love from ‘our George’ has been absolutely
amazing.”
George has been volunteering at Harvey Milk Civil Rights Elementary since 1998, starting out as a monthly reader before asking to become a classroom volunteer. Now, George comes to Leanne’s classroom every Wednesday, and from the moment he walks in the door dressed in a superhero t-shirt, the class is energized. “He knows me so well as a teacher and follows my lead with the children. He adds a twist of entertainment to everything he does. Every time he sings or even reads a book it is entertaining.” Leanne says George is dedicated to his weekly reading sessions, and even practices reading the book – often Dr. Seuss – before each visit. “He uses funny voices and interjects life lessons into every story.” At Christmas, George surprised the class with individual copies of The Cat in the Hat for every student, so that they could practice reading over the break.
“George is a part of our lives. Not just a weekly volunteer,” Leann says. Beyond weekly readings, George attends every special event at the school, even showing up for Picture Day so the children could see him represented in their class photo as a part of their classroom community. George often shares through his books and readings a message about the importance of kindness and friendship, and shows how a classroom is a little world in which students can learn to “how to be peaceful in the bigger world.”
