Read With Me Volunteers (RWMV) — a local nonprofit founded by Roberta and Clay Klein in 2004 to help children from low income, limited English speaking environments improve their English reading, comprehension and speaking skills — is pleased to announce the appointment of Sean Webb as its new executive director.
Webb grew up in western New York and graduated from the University of Buffalo, later earning master’s degrees from D’Youville College and California State University, San Bernardino. He has 20 years of experience as a teacher, assistant principal and high school football coach. Most recently, he served as director of the Desert Sands Unified School District’s Community Engagement and Education Foundation. His motivational skills, along with being an accomplished fundraiser, grant writer and community leader, have helped enhance the lives of many students in the Coachella Valley.
“In choosing Sean,” said executive board member Dan Giovannitti, “our board felt that he will lead and grow RWMV as he has helped direct the community engagement at Desert Sands, while increasing the funding raised for the foundation and establishing new programs.
“Sean’s appointment is part of a larger transition in leadership and management for our organization. Beginning this year, RWMV created a partnership with the Riverside County Office of Education, where he serves as Director I of Literacy Outreach, to set the stage for the expansion of our missions. As part of that partnership, Sean becomes an employee of the RCOE dedicated to RWMV programs. We are confident that Sean will assure that our organization will remain a leader in helping kids learn to read for years to come.”
RWMV has a unique program for students in grades K-6 where they read to the volunteer and then the volunteer helps with pronunciation and comprehension by asking questions. Volunteers are encouraged to commit two to three hours a week. The volunteers are assigned to a specific grade level of their choice and work — under the direction of the teacher — one-on-one with the children.
All schools under the jurisdiction of Read With Me Volunteer Programs are currently in need of volunteers for the 2023-24 school season. It is a rewarding job and one that inspires both the students and the volunteers who tutor them. Read With Me Volunteer Programs demonstrate stunning proof that caring adults can change the path of a child’s life by helping them learn to read and succeed where English is the dominant language. Fluency is needed for all learning, including math and science.
“We invite you to share your time, expertise and talent with us in our most joyful mission,” Webb said. “Helping disadvantaged children become successful, contributing citizens in our local communities is extremely rewarding. We are accepting new and returning volunteers. We ask that you live here in the Coachella Valley, either part-time or full-time, to be a volunteer.”
Presently, Read With Me Volunteer Programs has schools in the following desert cities: Cathedral City, Coachella, Desert Hot Springs, Indio, Mecca, Palm Desert, Salton City, and Thermal. Volunteers are represented in all these Coachella Valley cities.
For more information on how to volunteer, call Rachel Ruiz at (760) 567-1830 or visit readwithmevolunteers.com.
Coverage of nonprofits in the Coachella Valley for The Desert Sun is supported by a grant from the CIELO Fund through the Inland Empire Community Foundation.
DeAnn Lubell, writer, novelist and publicist, has represented nonprofits and businesses in the areas of marketing, event planning and fundraising productions in the Coachella Valley since 1991. She is a PR and marketing representative for the Boys & Girls Clubs of Coachella Valley and Read With Me Volunteer Programs as well as her own nonprofit Amy’s Purpose, an educational pet safety and predator awareness and counseling service.
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