Beyond the call of duty, tutoring underserved youth

Courtesy Photo | During Public Service Recognition Week the Defense Finance And Accounting recognizes and applauds Celeste Gary, DFAS Internal Review team lead, for her public service efforts that go beyond her federal position. Gary takes public service to the next level by volunteering to tutor underserved children through the Cleveland Federal Executive Board Tutoring Program.  

CLEVELAND, OH, UNITED STATES

05.04.2021

Story by Anthony Hardman 

Defense Finance and Accounting Service

CLEVELAND, May 4, 2021 – Celeste Gary enjoys the work she does as team lead for Internal Review, especially knowing it impacts people like her son-in-law, who serves in the Army. However, for Gary, public service means so much more than just doing her job at the Defense Finance and Accounting Service Cleveland.

Facing challenges growing up in the inner city, Gary recalls that if it were not for key teachers in her life who cared, she would not have become as successful as she is today. So, ten years ago, when she heard about an opportunity to tutor underserved children through the Cleveland Federal Executive Board (FEB) Tutoring Program, she jumped at the chance.

"The challenges are great, and when I first started tutoring, because they gave us a choice of schools, there was a school that was in the neighborhood of my grandparents where we grew up. And I said, 'well, this is a perfect opportunity to go back to an area where I spent a lot of time and reach some kids.'"

She has volunteered at three different schools over the years, and every year she selects a grade to work with and a subject, either reading or math. For the past couple of years, she has worked with third graders at Memorial School in Cleveland. Because the amount of administrative leave one person can take for the program is limited, Gary also alternates tutoring weeks with a co-tutor, Helene Fellows. Fellows retired from DFAS last year but is still tutoring as a volunteer.

Before the global pandemic, Gary was able to go into the school and work with students one-on-one. She says that seeing the same student every week face-to-face made it easier to forge a connection with them.

"One of the things I used to love to do when I went to the school was to look on the bulletin boards and look for that child's work," Gary said. "To have conversations with them about things that excited them, or things that they were working on that they were proud of because I think one of the biggest things these kids need is encouragement from anybody."

Gary talked about the challenges these kids face in a normal year, such as worrying about having clean clothes, enough food to eat, and a secure roof over their heads, in addition to trying to do school. When COVID hit, she thought the program would end. Luckily, they figured out a way to do it virtually.

Now, she meets with her student via a private Zoom chat room where they can each share screens and work on the material together. However, she says that doing it virtually takes more patience.

"It's challenging in a virtual environment because we have to deal with everybody else that's in the home. Sometimes it's a situation where it's just so noisy because there are a bunch of kids, adults in the background, and more interruptions that we can't control."

Despite all the challenges, the program works, and Gary loves it when she can tell they are building confidence and making progress. She also wants to encourage more people to participate in the tutoring program.

"They need positive role models. A lot of women are in the program, but they also need men that can help these young boys."

Beyond her work at DFAS and her role as a tutor, Gary also gives a lot of time to her family by caring for elderly parents, one of whom has Alzheimer's disease. She says that there are good days and bad days, but she does the best she can. In addition to her parents, Gary loves to spend time with her husband Wes, her two daughters, and two granddaughters.

Gary is proof that even when you have a lot on your plate, you can still make time for others. When asked what public service means to her, she said it means giving back.

"I actually care about my community and the country that I live in, and things can't progress unless we're all willing to do something. It could be something little, like wearing a facemask, or something big, but we all need each other. We need community."

This Public Service Recognition Week, Gary's story serves as a reminder for us all that giving back, even just a little, can make a big difference in the lives of others.

• Date Taken: 05.04.2021
• Date Posted: 05.04.2021 12:10
• Story ID: 395579
• Location: CLEVELAND, OH, US