Community Spotlight: Jerry Miccolis

Jerry Miccolis has been a Math Motivators volunteer since February 2021, tutoring students of all ages. Over the last three years, Jerry has contributed almost 130 hours supporting both in-person and virtual programs. Jerry is extremely passionate about math and is enthusiastic about sharing his passion with his students. At each session, he’s ready with a smile and caring heart, allowing his students to establish a strong relationship and comfort with him, enabling their math skill growth and increased confidence. In his spare time, Jerry plays in the senior softball league. He authored The Boys of Late Summer, a book whose proceeds go to support New Jersey and Hawaii food banks. His dedication to tutoring doesn’t end when he leaves New Jersey, as he continues to support our programs even when he heads to Hawaii for half the year. We are so grateful to have Jerry on our team.

—Damaris Rodriguez, Math Motivators Program Coordinator

 

Please share what your work with the Foundation has meant to you.

Through its volunteer programs, TAF has provided me excellently-administered and very rewarding opportunities to make good on a commitment that I made (and documented on social media) immediately following my retirement in 2016: to use my education, experience, and new-found time availability to do what I can to foster math and science literacy among kids of all ages. TAF has helped make that desire of mine an impactful reality.

 

Which Foundation programs have you participated in and what drew you to them?

The two TAF programs I have devoted the most time to are Math Motivators and Modeling the Future Challenge. The objectives of these particular programs are directly in line with my ambition to foster math and science literacy in any way I can. This is an abiding passion of mine, as my education in these subject areas has opened many doors throughout my life and career, and I believe the same advantages can be available to anyone, regardless of economic, social, or family situation. Fluency in these technical areas is a great leveler; the “next Einstein” can come from anywhere, with the right motivation and intellectual support. In addition to opening up very rewarding career opportunities, a solid grounding in math and science helps train the mind to think clearly, logically, and rationally—an invaluable asset for tackling life in general. And more people thinking clearly and rationally should make the world a better place to live in.

 

What is your best experience and memory from being a part of a Foundation program?

My fondest experience to date relates to the Math Motivators VTC (Virtual Tutoring Center) program. I had the opportunity to remotely tutor the two daughters of an immigrant family. The parents wanted their daughters to enjoy the opportunities that their adopted country, and the girls’ own intellectual curiosity, would allow them. They had just moved to a new school district and identified the need for after-school math enrichment, but could not afford private tutoring. Math Motivators allowed them access to tutoring volunteers, and they were assigned to me. Due to their self-motivation, commitment, engagement, attentiveness, politeness, and genuine thirst for learning, they became two of my very favorite students. The parents’ clear desire to provide what’s best for their children and support their ambitions without supplying undue pressure to succeed also made a distinct impression on me. The family has honored me by embracing me as an important part of their “village,” and my wife and I intend to take them up on their gracious invitation to attend the girls’ graduation ceremonies, the several-hundred-mile commute notwithstanding.

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To learn more about volunteering with Math Motivators, visit www.mathmotivators.org