Bad-A** Do-Gooders

By Travis Hill

Learn to Read of St. Johns County
Janet Hutson, the executive director of Learn to Read of St. Johns County, sums it up very nicely.

“I’m helping people themselves. I couldn’t ask for a better job.”

Hutson is the only full-time employee of this local bright spot that tutors between 300-400 adults, high school students, migrant workers and just about anyone else who needs it each year.

There are two other part-timers. Then there is you. Well, it could be you.

Learn to Read of St. Johns County runs on the power of over 100 local volunteers.

“It’s extremely worthwhile, Hutson said. “And it’s because of the devotion of the people who volunteer.”

The center teaches reading, writing, math and English to speakers of other languages. Along the way, it has helped folks pass their GED, earn their citizenship and perhaps just as important, eliminate the self-loathing and shame that comes with not being able to read or write.

“If learning to read or write seemed easy to you when you were growing up, that’s because you understood the method you were taught,” Hutson said. “Some people’s brains aren’t wired that way. We use lots of other techniques to help people understand it in a different way. It has nothing to do with intelligence – some people just need to learn it differently.”

And Hutson relies on a growing number of volunteers like Loretta Hodyss (pictured) to get this message across.

In order to volunteer, the most important thing you have to do is show up: come to the Learn to Read office to fill out an application. You will be trained in the proper techniques, then the center will try to match you up with the people you would like to help the most.

“Our tutors say they get back as much as they give,” Hutson said.

Learn to Read of St. Johns County
ltrstjohns.org
826-0011

**FOR ALL OF THIS YEAR’S PROFILES, PICK UP DRIFT AT THESE LOCATIONS ACROSS ST. AUGUSTINE.**