Helen's Journey from Tutor to Unit Director

Helen's Club Journey

At Boys & Girls Clubs of Springfield, we believe out-of-school time is where opportunity meets possibility. The Club is a place where young people can go after school and during the summer to grow beyond the classroom and find caring mentors. Helen’s journey from Academic Coordinator to Unit Director shows the power of those relationships, and why out-of-school time matters so deeply.

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Finding Purpose in Out of School Time

Helen began working at the Club during a pivotal moment during the aftermath of the pandemic. As an Academic Coordinator, she was tasked with helping members bridge learning gaps. “The need post-pandemic for bridging that learning gap was huge,” Helen recalls. “When I got into those small groups, I realized how big the need was and how important afterschool programs are.”

Her tutoring sessions revealed how eager young people were to succeed, yet how different each of their needs were. Some struggled with reading, while others needed help in math or spelling. Helen found purpose in tailoring each session, creating moments when members finally felt success. She recalls specific moments when Club members achieved a new reading level. “They got so excited and they felt so accomplished,” she says. “That just fueled my mission. I was like, all right, let’s go, we can do it again.”

That sense of shared accomplishment, kids celebrating their own growth alongside caring adults who are invested in them, is at the heart of the Club experience. It’s why 100% of our staff believe ours is an organization that values learning, and why 89% of Club members say they enjoy learning new things. Those numbers reflect what Helen has experienced firsthand: afterschool learning thrives when caring adults and mentors support it.

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Growing Into Leadership

As Helen grew in her role, she knew she wanted to take on more leadership. Today, as Unit Director at the Sertoma Unit, she gets to shape programs, support staff, and bring in community partners while still staying connected to members. 

“What I love about my current role is the combination I get between working with other passionate adults who really care to serve this mission, and still getting to see successes with the kids,” she says.

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The Power of Caring Adults

Along the way, Helen has built meaningful relationships that stay with her. In her first year, she connected with a special young person. This Club member struggled to connect, often isolating herself from others. Helen patiently built trust, one conversation at a time. Eventually, that connection became a turning point for this Club member, who began to excel more during and after school. “She told me on my last day that I was the only person who had ever looked her in her eyes and told her they loved her. I’ll never forget it.”

Helen’s journey shows why elevating out-of-school time matters. These hours can leave some young people on their own, or, through programs like the Club, connect them with mentors and opportunities they might not otherwise have. For Helen, it’s also where she found her purpose: “To be able to do this for work and see that impact every day is really awesome.”

At Boys & Girls Clubs of Springfield, we know that when we invest in caring adults like Helen, we are investing in Great Futures for Springfield’s youth. 

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