Stiller is the D.C. Project Director for Experience Corps. She has been with the organization for almost four years, but began working at her current position in January.
What is Experience Corps?
It’s a wonderful program that brings adults 55 years of age and older into public elementary schools to tutor and mentor children in grades kindergarten through third grade. It’s an evidence-based literacy intervention. It’s an award-winning, national program that’s currently in 21 cities around the country with some 2,000 volunteers who are tutoring and mentoring about 20,000 children.
How long has Experience Corps been a part of D.C. schools?
Experience Corps has been in a part of D.C. since 1999. This past [academic] year was the last year that it was actually in the schools. It’s been in hiatus this past year. We are resurrecting the program, and hopefully we’ll be back in at least two schools starting in the fall.
What will the program look like in the fall?
We have two models currently. We have a one-on-one tutoring model and a classroom assistant model. What we will likely have in the fall is a hybrid of that. This is a program that really provides a triple-win for schools, for students and for older adults. We have research that indicates that students achieve higher test scores, schools achieve a safer environment for teaching and learning and the older adults achieve greater physical, mental and social well-being, even though they’re really in it for the good of the children.
How can people get involved?
We will be holding exploratory meetings. In the interim, if people are interested in becoming a volunteer, they can call me at 202-478-6194.
What is your favorite part of your job?
The favorite part of my job is connecting older adults with children and dispelling negative stereotypes about aging.
Erica Redmond
