Local volunteer helps adults build basic skills in tough times
Every Friday morning, a small group of adults meets at the Headstart Center in Berkeley Springs to study math.
It's not something they do for fun, though there is plenty of laughing and joking going on.
The young women are beefing up their mathematical skills in preparation for taking the GED test — the General Education Development exam that can grant an adult the equivalent of a high school diploma.
At the head of the table is Allan Ramsay, a volunteer tutor with the Literacy Volunteers of the Eastern Panhandle. A Hedgesville resident, Ramsay has led classes at Morgan County's Headstart Center for several years.
In September, the state's adult literacy council — Literacy West Virginia — named Ramsay as their "Volunteer Tutor of the Year" during a reception at the Cultural Center in Charleston.
Ramsay was recognized for his work helping adults improve their reading, writing and math skills, especially as they prepare for the GED examination. He tutors not just in Morgan County, but at James Rumsey's Learning Center and in Berkeley County's adult education classes.
A retired Air Force meteorologist, Ramsay's strong math background has filled a giant need for adults preparing to take their GED tests.
He runs the math study session for adults at Morgan County's Headstart Center each Friday morning. It was first offered to mothers of Headstart children, then included some bus aides, and now is populated mostly with students who are also attending GED classes through the Morgan County Board of Education.
"It turns out that other than basic reading, math skills are the biggest need I see," said Ramsay.
Last year, Ramsay also taught a financial literacy class at the local Headstart Center.
While only four people completed the class, he saw his tutoring make a positive impact almost immediately.
In the course of completing homework for the class — tracking household spending for a week — one of Ramsay's students realized how much money she was spending on cigarettes.
She immediately quit smoking, telling Ramsay, "my kids would kill me" if they realized how much money she was spending on the habit.
Looking for diplomas, jobs
"A lot of my students are trying to get into the workforce. They've lost their jobs and are realizing if they don't have a GED, employers won't even talk to you," said Ramsay.
"These people are working hard at improving their lives," Ramsay said of his students.
Working with adults is different than teaching children, Ramsay said. His training with the Literacy Volunteers gave him a strong sense of how to approach adult learners.
"You have to respect that they come with adult issues. Children show up in class because they have to. Adults show up because they want to. They're heavily motivated, and I try to teach them things they want to know," Ramsay said.
Having students succeed in getting their diploma is very fulfilling, though successes show up in a variety of forms, said Ramsay.
"I'm working with students all the way from the learning disabled to those with a second grade reading level to those with a high school diploma. Whenever I can, I get students to work together. If a student is able to help another student, that's beneficial for both of them," Ramsay said.
Tutoring is tough & fulfilling
The Literacy Volunteers of the Eastern Panhandle is always seeking people to help adults gather the basic skills they need to succeed at work, in their family life and in their communities.
The group trains volunteers for free and supplies needed teaching materials. Tutoring services are free for students.
Finding volunteers willing to take the training and meet regularly with students can be tough, said Ramsay, who also serves on the group's Board of Directors.
"We're helping people who can't read, and that's not very glamorous, but it's very fulfilling," Ramsay said.
He was also recently chosen as the "Literacy Volunteer of the Year" by the West Virginia Adult Education Association, because of his volunteer work.
Between preparing for class, travel and record keeping, Ramsay estimates he spends nearly 20 hours a week on his tutoring and board activities for the Literacy Volunteers.
His wife, Bonnie, is his behind-the-scenes helper with many of these activities — doing everything from stuffing envelopes to fundraising for literacy work.
"It's easy to stay motivated when you think what it takes for an adult to stand up and admit that they need help reading and with basic skills," said Ramsay.
