When Weston Hatfield retired from James Madison University after 18 years as a staff fundraiser, he knew he wanted to stay engaged with his community in a meaningful way. Three years ago, he heard about Skyline Literacy and thought it might be the perfect fit—especially the Citizenship Preparation program.
Weston began volunteering with Skyline Literacy without any prior teaching experience, but he was eager to help and quickly learned from the experienced instructors around him. His willingness to listen, observe, and adapt allowed him to grow into an effective and compassionate tutor, dedicated to supporting adult learners on their educational journeys.
He started by assisting other teachers with citizenship classes and quickly found joy in the process. “I really enjoyed observing the teachers who had been doing this for a while, and also building relationships with the students,” he says. “They came from so many different countries, and yet they helped each other. We all got close.”
Weston says the best part of volunteering is “the sense of satisfaction you get from working with people who want to become citizens and getting to know them.” He adds, “Experiencing them in this context of becoming a U.S. citizen and the class interactions were so enjoyable—we had so many laughs… we had fun.”
Over time, Weston began substituting for other teachers and tutoring one-on-one in GED preparation and basic literacy. He found that Skyline’s curriculum was easy to follow and adaptable to each learner’s needs. “You start to see what works for each student,” he explains. “The key is patience and encouragement.”
One of Weston’s most memorable experiences was tutoring a woman from Afghanistan who had lived in Turkey before coming to the U.S. She was illiterate in both her native language and English, raising four children while trying to learn to read and write for the first time. Weston met with her for a year, guiding her through daily English practice twice a week. They spent time together outside the classroom, going to the grocery store and driving around town to practice everyday English words and phrases. Through these real-life lessons, he watched her steadily gain confidence and language skills.
Eventually, his student advanced to a basic English class—a milestone that filled him with pride and a sense of fulfillment. Watching her growth and determination reaffirmed his belief in the power of education and the impact of patient, personalized support.
He also cherishes the bonds built within the citizenship classes. “At the end of a course, we have a party to celebrate our students completing the class,” he shares with a smile. “Some of them still call me to tell me when they’ve passed their naturalization test.”
Weston credits Skyline Literacy’s dedicated staff and tutor manager for fostering a supportive, well-organized environment that empowers volunteers to succeed. Their clear guidance, high standards, and commitment to excellence made his experience both rewarding and effective.
Through his volunteer experience, Weston has found not only purpose but connection—a community built around learning, laughter, and shared dreams.
As he reflects on his time at Skyline Literacy, one thing stands out most: “The sense of satisfaction you get from working with people who want to become citizens and getting to know them—that’s the best part.”