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ABOUT US
What is the Literacy Network of South Berkshire?
We are a nonprofit, community-based organization serving the 15 towns of southern Berkshire County in Western Massachusetts. We provide free, one-on-one tutoring to adults in reading, GED (general education diploma) preparation, English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL) and Citizenship preparation. We are the only year-round, adult literacy program in South County. Our volunteer tutors help adults reach their goals of self-sufficiency, independence and job retention.
One-on-One Tutoring
Our tutoring is available to anyone in Southern Berkshire age 16 or older and not enrolled in school. We match tutors with students based on mutually convenient times and places as well as compatibility. We currently have 120 student/tutor pairs meeting each week.
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Who Are Our Tutors?
Our tutors come from all walks of life. Volunteer tutors are provided with training and ongoing support. Some tutors have backgrounds in education, others do not. There is no need to have any expertise in any language except English. The only requirement is to be interested in helping change lives, one student at a time. Our tutors donate more than 11,520 hours of their time each year.
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Who are our Students?
We work with adults who live or work in South Berkshire (south of Pittsfield). Teens 16 and older, and legally out of school, are considered adults. Eighty one percent of our students are learning English as a second language (ESOL), 9% are working toward a GED diploma, and 10% are simply reading to read. Currently our students range in age from 19- 62. Some were born in South Berkshire and are trying to improve their basic academic skills in order to get better jobs. Some never learned to read when they were in school. Others dropped out of high school years ago and now are seeking help in preparing for the GED test.
Our students who want to learn to speak and read English come from 31 countries. Some of these students worked in various professions in their home countries, such as dentistry, banking and business. Others had little opportunity for schooling and are now striving for an education in the United States.
The one thing all of our students have in common is a desire to improve their lives. They have turned to LitNet as a source of self-help.
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Meet Our Staff
The Literacy Network has a staff of 4 part-time employees who work in an office in the Lee Library generously provided by the Lee Library Association.
Our staff includes:
Pamela Kittredge, Executive Director pamk@litnetsb.org
Mary Spina, Education Director marys@litnetsb.org
Margaret Swann, Assistant Education Director margarets@litnetsb.org
Kimberly Cahalan, Administrative Assistant kimberlyc@litnetsb.org
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The Board of Directors
LitNet is governed by an 18-member board of directors, all of whom serve in a volunteer capacity.
Current Members
Lois H. Lenett, Co-President
John Felton, Co-President
Adrienne M. Cosel, Clerk
Richard J. Taylor, Treasurer
Lisa Cavender
Walter C. Cliff
Bill Dunlaevy
Patricia Flinn
Leon Glazerman
Paul Kopperl
Georgia A. Massucco
Enid Michelman
Robert D. Montgomery
Mary J. Philpott
Virginia Schwartz
Heather Veague
Suki Werman
Laird White
Advisory Board
Deborah Ferro Burke
Zoe Dalheim
Solomon Israel
Peter A.V. Schoeffer
Vera Kalm
Margaret Smith
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Your support goes a long way at the Literacy Network
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Literacy Network of South Berkshire (LitNet)
100 Main Street
Lee, MA 01238
TEL. 413-243-0471
FAX 413-243-6754
E-mail: info@litnetsb.org
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