When Maria Gonzalez retired from teaching elementary school after thirty years, she expected to feel relieved. And she did, for a while. The freedom to sleep past six in the morning, to spend unhurried mornings with coffee, to travel when the mood struck — it was wonderful. But after a few months, something started to feel off.
"I missed the children," Maria says with a warm laugh. "I missed the way a little face lights up when something clicks. I missed reading stories and hearing their wild, wonderful ideas about what might happen next."
A friend mentioned that BrightRoots was looking for volunteers for its Reading Buddies program, and Maria decided to stop by. That was two years ago. Today, she is one of our most dedicated and beloved volunteers, spending three mornings a week reading with small groups of children in our Early Learning program.
Finding a New Rhythm
The transition from full-time teacher to volunteer was not immediate. Maria describes the first few weeks as a period of adjustment, learning to step back from the instinct to plan and control every moment.
"In a classroom, you are always thinking about the next activity, the assessment, the report card. As a volunteer, I could let all of that go and just be present with the children. It was like rediscovering why I became a teacher in the first place."
Maria's role in the Reading Buddies program involves sitting with small groups of two to three children and reading picture books together. But what happens during those sessions goes far beyond turning pages. Maria asks open-ended questions, encourages children to make predictions, and creates space for conversation about the stories and illustrations.
The Impact on Children
Our educators have observed meaningful changes in the children who participate in Maria's reading groups. Several children who were initially hesitant about books have become eager participants, asking for stories throughout the day. Others have shown noticeable growth in vocabulary and their ability to retell stories in sequence.
Lead educator Emily Thompson has seen the impact firsthand. "Maria has a gift for making every child feel seen and heard. She remembers their favorite characters, follows up on things they said the week before, and celebrates their progress in ways that really matter to them."
For the children, Maria is not a teacher or an authority figure — she is a trusted friend who loves stories as much as they do. That relational quality is what makes the Reading Buddies program so effective.
The Impact on Maria
The benefits flow both ways. Maria describes her volunteer work as one of the most fulfilling commitments in her life.
"People ask me what I do in retirement, and I always say I read stories with the most interesting people I know. These children teach me something new every single day — about patience, about imagination, about seeing the world with fresh eyes."
Maria has also found community among the other volunteers and staff at BrightRoots. She attends family events, joins professional development workshops, and has become an informal mentor to newer volunteers who are finding their footing.
Volunteering at BrightRoots
Maria's story is one of many. Our volunteer program includes opportunities in the classroom, at community events, in our garden, and behind the scenes with administrative support. We welcome volunteers of all ages and backgrounds, and we provide training and ongoing support to make sure every volunteer feels confident and valued.
If you have a few hours to spare each week and a desire to make a difference in a child's life, we would love to hear from you. As Maria puts it, "You think you are giving your time, but honestly, you get back so much more."
To learn more about volunteer opportunities at BrightRoots, visit our Get Involved page or contact our community outreach team. Your next chapter might be waiting.