Tutor Spotlights

Congratulations to Diana Mendez, LVSC's 2024 Tutor of the Year! 

Diana trained to be a volunteer tutor in April of 2021 after retiring from a 30-year teaching career.  Her positive and contagious spirit, coupled with her years of teaching experience, has made her an excellent tutor and a tremendous asset to the LVSC community.

Diana has tutored multiple students.  Her proudest moment was listening to her most recent student, Marjorie, present her with the award for Tutor of the Year at the LVSC Annual Meeting. Says Marjorie,

Mrs. Diana is an excellent teacher, very professional, and dedicated to her work. She has helped me a lot. Her teaching and support motivate me to move forward. She is also very patient. Diana was born to be a teacher.

Diana with her husband and student Marjorie at LVSC's Annual Meeting & Recognition Event.Diana is also an LVSC Student Assessor, presenting a friendly face and a welcoming first impression for our new, often anxious, students.  Diana recently took on an additional challenge and is now leading a small group of seven beginner students just starting on their language journey.  

More About Diana:

LVSC Journey: I had just retired from teaching after 30 years and knew that I still had much to offer to the community.  I wanted to get involved with the Children’s Hospital in New Brunswick, as a volunteer to read books to hospitalized children but COVID prevented me from doing it. I cannot recall how I found LVSC but thought it was something that I would be able to apply my skills and knowledge to. I love meeting new students and my relationship with the LVSC staff.

Proudest LVSC Moment: Listening to my most recent student introduce me as Tutor of the Year. Without hesitation she volunteered and wrote a beautiful speech.

Diana celebrating her proudest LVSC moment with Marjorie.Day Job: Retired elementary, bilingual, and ESL teacher.

Favorite Quote: “You have brains in your head. You have feet in your shoes. You can steer yourself any direction you choose,” from Dr. Seuss. I also live by this quote, “Always finish everything you start,” from President Jimmy Carter.

Favorite Food: Arroz con Gandules (Yellow rice with pigeon peas) from Puerto Rico.

Hobbies: Reading, gardening and a most recent discovery, acrylic painting. 

Favorite Books: The Five People You Meet in Heaven by Mitch Album and The Little Prince by Antoine de Saint Exupery.

R&R Spot: Sitting in front of the ocean watching the waves come and go. It is so relaxing!