Volunteers
Profiles, news, and resources for our team.
If you want to make a difference, BEACON may have a place for you.
The impact our volunteers have on the lives of our students is profound. Through the hard work and dedication of volunteer teachers, managers, administrators, and more, BEACON is able to help hundreds of students every year achieve milestones both big and small. From reading their first words to passing the Citizenship exam, our students and their goals range from the very beginnings of literacy to the more complex areas of job preparation, technology, personal finance, and civics.
Our volunteers work tirelessly on every aspect of our program, from instructing in the classroom to coordinating behind the scenes. No matter your experience or existing skill-sets, if you have passion for helping adult immigrants become self-sufficient and active members of their communities, there’s an opportunity for you at BEACON! With your hard work and dedication a BEACON student will obtain language proficiency, increase employability and family stability. Volunteer positions include volunteer teachers, tutors, technology facilitators, workforce presenters, resume coaches, and site managers.
Student Testimonials
“BEACON is the most important school for me because the teachers and management pushed me and prepared me to take the GED test early in my training.
I took the test and now I have my GED Diploma. It was hard but I achieved it, thanks to the teachers and all the staff of BEACON.
However; learning is a lifetime objective. I continue to work on my English. I would like to improve my English speaking. That’s why I came back to BEACON.
I am happy to find good teachers and the best group of student partners. BEACON is the best investment of my time.“
“There are many things I like about this country. Everyday there is something that surprises me.
One of the things was when I learned about BEACON because a friend told me she got her GED. That inspired me to be part of this program.
I feel lucky because this group of good people who volunteer their time means a lot for me. I am thankful to have someone who helps me learn English and the American culture. If there were many programs like BEACON lives in the USA would be easier, especially for immigrants.
Thank you very much to Mr. Bill Cratty, Candace, Caroline and to all who make it possible that the BEACON program exists.”
Latest News
A Tradition of Immigration in VirginiaJanuary 10, 2017 - 4:30 pmFrom the colonists who founded Jamestown in 1607, Virginia has welcomed generations of new Americans to its shores and today it is one of the most ethnically diverse states in the nation. Home to more than one million immigrants, Virginia ranks as having the 9th largest foreign-born population in the United States.
Spotlight on: The Sisters at BEACONDecember 18, 2016 - 12:23 amBEACON was founded in 1992 by Sister Eileen Heaps to address the need for adult literacy education in Prince William County. Today, four Sisters and Postulant Kay Fitzgerald directly continue Sister Eileen’s mission. Sister Doris Nolte is a co-facilitator of the new CareGiver pilot program. A retired principal, classroom teacher, and registered nurse, Sister Doris […]
From the Executive Director:
Letter from the Director: Winter 2016December 20, 2016 - 4:36 pmGreetings! BEACON for Adult Literacy, like many Adult Education literacy organizations across the country, is undergoing change. The Workforce Innovation Opportunity Act (WIOA) has shifted education (at all levels) to have a strong focus on job readiness skills and career pathways. While any change can be challenging, BEACON is approaching the future with optimism and […]
BEACON Fall AppealSeptember 30, 2016 - 7:49 pmDear BEACON friend: “I can’t believe I did it. When I came here I didn’t have any education; this is what is beautiful about America, I am doing many things now, I have a good job, and I can get an education.” Maria is BEACON’s latest inductee into US Citizenship. She came to the United […]