Sally Champe of A Dock encourages folks with teaching skills to volunteer for Tamalpais College at San Quentin Rehabilitation Center:
Before and during the pandemic I volunteered as an English instructor and tutor at San Quentin’s Mount Tamalpais College. It was the most rewarding volunteer experience I have ever had. That was because of the students; they made it a wonderful experience.
I have taught high school English but teaching at San Quentin is a completely different experience. The students really want to learn. They are appreciative, they do the homework, they don’t mess around in class, and they are very respectful.
When I told friends that I was teaching at S.Q., they always asked if it wasn’t a scary thing to do. The answer was no. I always felt perfectly safe. The students are men who have made some bad choices, but they now want to make a better life for themselves. Most of them are looking toward the day they get out, but now with more options available to them.
With three terms a year, 20 courses a semester, and a robust Student Learning Center, Mount Tamalpais College offers volunteer opportunities spanning teaching, tutoring, and computer lab assistance throughout the year, to professionals looking for ways to get involved in providing educational opportunities to people in prison.
The college also runs college preparatory courses in math and writing and an expansive collection of extracurricular events, activities, and learning services.
You can learn more about MTC and sign up for their mailing list and/or an upcoming information session online.