Ruby Wossum (11/19/1930 - 2/6/2012) was my former boss and mentor. Before her involvement in tutoring she was a college professor and before that an elementary school teacher. It was her inspiration and commitment to education that led me to a career in tutoring. Ms. Wossum was a pioneer and visionary in tutoring. When she became director of what was later named the Academic Resource Center, she had the foresight during the period 1990-1991 to set up a multipurpose tutoring center at the former State Technical Institute at Memphis (now part of Southwest Tennessee Community College). Previously all tutoring at the college had been done in a single room for one content area, math. Ms. Wossum as director of the Academic Resource Center helped create a tutoring center that provided tutoring in all the major content areas taught at the college. In addition, a computer lab and a collection of instructional video tapes, and other academic resources were housed in the same building. Ms. Wossum set up a peer tutoring program in 1993 that provided an academic scholarship for students agreeing to become tutors. This program, named by Ms. Wossum as DUCKS (Dynamic Use of Collaborative Knowledge and Skills) became the first in the state of Tennessee to earn the Master Level of Certification with the College Reading and Learning Association (CRLA).
It has been said that "A good teacher is like a candle - it consumes itself to light the way for others." The light that you lit is still glowing in the many tutors who had the privilege of working under you and your many students. RIP Ms. Wossum.
It has been said that "A good teacher is like a candle - it consumes itself to light the way for others." The light that you lit is still glowing in the many tutors who had the privilege of working under you and your many students. RIP Ms. Wossum.
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