Monday, July 25, 2011
In Memory of Donna Chapman 1946-2011
Donna Chapman and Kiana Hightower smile during a Reading Coaches session at Whelan Elementary School in Revere, MA.
Donna Chapman wore her name-tag with pride. Showcasing her dedication to her students and the program, this green lanyard, lovingly adorned with stickers from her students, was never absent from her neck at the Whelan School. In one instance, she told a program associate that putting on her name-tag was the best part of her day. Since November of 2008 Donna has been an integral part of our Revere program, setting the bar for our Experience Corps Members with her constant smile and clear passion for working with her students, even when illness prevented her from serving.
In rain, snow, sleet, or shine Donna unfailingly arrived for the earliest Reading Coaches sessions, pulling up to the Whelan School in her yellow Volkswagen Bug, a vehicle which reflected her upbeat and cheerful personality. She was always willing to help with any extra tasks at her site, from cleaning the room to welcoming new volunteers. But Donna’s passion and dedication truly shone when she worked with her students. She would always go above and beyond to help her students succeed, no matter how challenging they might be. In one instance, Donna offered to work as a Reading Coach for a reserved first grader who was just beginning to learn English as a second language. However, through Donna’s compassion this student slowly learned to feel comfortable and grew in her literacy skills by leaps and bounds. Although Donna was not able to return as an ECM this past year due to illness, she longed to come back to read with just this one student. While undergoing treatment for her illness, Donna continuously expressed how much she missed the students who decorated her name-tag. Her students and team avidly returned the sentiment.
Donna is missed dearly by her family and all of her fellow Experience Corps Members, staff, and students. I know I think of her whenever I see a yellow bug.
