Sasha applied to volunteer at 826 Valencia two-and-a-half years ago when she was lured in by the question “Can you draw the pirate?” on our application. Turns out she could and turns out she could do a lot more than that!

To date, Sasha has completed the most in-schools sessions of anybody on our ever-growing roster of tutors. In addition, she has been involved in just about every publication endeavor that we’ve embarked on in recent memory – including our current Wallenberg High School book project, where Sasha is a triple-threat, having helped out with the tutoring, editing and design work. She served on the Wallenberg editorial board and she spent last week helping our production and design manager get approval from the students on the edits made to their work. In addition, she personally scanned all of the beautiful original artwork that will highlight each student’s story.

Sasha’s continually positive attitude puts everyone around her at ease. She is great with students and other volunteers alike. She always walks into our tutoring lab with a smile on her face.

Sasha had this to offer about her tutoring experience here at 826 Valencia:

“Tutoring is not just teaching a child the difference between ‘its’ and ‘it’s.’ It is about instilling a piece of yourself. That is really amazing and unbelievably powerful. Being a resource -- a ‘someone else’ who cares about a child and their success -- is what truly benefits a student.”

Tutoring at 826 has also made Sasha realize that her future lies in teaching, writing, and the non-profit world.

Congratulations again to Sasha Kinney, a truly deserving Tutor of the Month honoree!