Retired Volunteers Boost Learning at Gaithersburg School

retired volunteers – In Gaithersburg, Md., retired residents from a nearby retirement community volunteer at Fields Road Elementary—helping students read, practice math, and learn languages.

A mile-long commute is turning into something far bigger than a weekly service project for an elementary school community in Gaithersburg, Maryland.

Retired volunteers from The Carnegie at Washingtonian Center travel to Fields Road Elementary School to be paired with students. bringing consistent one-on-one support that reaches beyond the classroom basics.. The effort. which is described as a “mixing of the generations. ” focuses on helping children learn to read. strengthen math skills. and even practice a second language.

At Fields Road Elementary. Principal Joshua Williams said the partnership began last year after two residents at the nearby retirement community reached out with a desire to volunteer.. What was initially expected to involve only a small group expanded quickly. evolving into a regular presence at the school as participation grew to between 12 and 15 residents.

The school’s structure is built around pairing volunteers with classes.. Volunteers typically make the short trip once or twice a week to work alongside teachers and students. with the goal of supporting learning during class time and providing students additional opportunities to practice skills in a low-pressure setting.

One volunteer, Jim Pattison, visits Ms.. Huang’s second-grade classroom every Friday afternoon.. Pattison. who said he has been involved with schools for more than 40 years. described the experience as both energizing and enjoyable. highlighting the way students’ curiosity and enthusiasm can reinvigorate adults who return to the classroom environment.

For second grade teacher Mandy Huang, Pattison’s weekly visit has become a standout moment for her students.. She said the children treat his arrival like an event, often asking when “Mr.. JP” will come back, and she described his role as closely resembling an “extra grandfather” figure for many of them.

Huang said Pattison’s support often centers on reading and language skills, including grammar and phonics. She noted that students use his help during independent work and related activities, such as learning about parts of speech and working through short stories designed to build comprehension.

Miriam Moskowitz, an eight-year-old in Huang’s class, said she reads with Pattison when the class needs help. She also described how students feel anticipation when the school day shifts back from music class, with many excited to see him already in the classroom.

While the students’ progress is a clear focus, the relationship is presented as mutual.. Pattison told WTOP that volunteering is not a one-sided exchange. saying that helping others can improve a person’s mood and sense of purpose.. In his view. getting outside one’s own routines and investing in someone else’s growth can create benefits for the volunteer as well.

Joan McCarthy, another volunteer involved at the school, echoed that sentiment.. She said the classroom environment feels familiar to her because of her experience as a teacher. substitute. and volunteer across her own children’s and grandchildren’s school years.. When she walks in. McCarthy said students typically respond right away with enthusiasm. including raising their hands and asking to participate in activities like listening to stories.

McCarthy often works with a fourth-grade class, including students learning English as a second language.. She framed the effort as especially meaningful across generations. saying that older volunteers and younger students can inspire one another—both by providing support and by serving as visible reminders that learners and helpers can learn from the connection itself.

Beyond classroom support, The Carnegie volunteers have also become involved in school community efforts. Williams said they raised money to purchase T-shirts for students to wear on field trips and during special events, helping ensure children have shared items that reinforce participation.

The fundraising also supported students who need assistance. Williams said the volunteers helped buy 75 backpacks for students at the school, and the program has included other visible projects aimed at improving the school environment.

Williams said the volunteers are also contributing to a beautification project at the front of the school.. He described the overall value of the effort as something that reaches directly into students’ beliefs about themselves—sending a message that they matter and that community members who may not have been previously tied to the school have still chosen to invest their time and attention.

Pattison added that the model could be replicated elsewhere. suggesting that other retirement communities might see a similar opportunity to partner with schools.. He said many schools would likely welcome the kind of involvement that brings steady adult support. additional encouragement. and a bridge between everyday life in a retirement setting and the challenges and excitement of early education.

Gaithersburg elementary school retired volunteers reading support community mentorship English as a second language intergenerational learning Fields Road Elementary