iLEAD Online Team Spotlight: Ruth Bohannon

Meet Ruth Bohannon, AKA Ms. Ruth, a seasoned tutor at iLEAD Online who brings decades of teaching experience and a passion for fostering each learner’s success. Let’s get to know Ms. Ruth!

Please tell us about your background.

I was born, raised, and spent my first half century in Southern California. I earned an art degree and teaching credential from San Diego State in the 1970s. My first year of teaching began in 1977 in Littlerock, CA. In April 2020, I began tutoring at iLEAD Online and have had such a fulfilling four years of tutoring students with iLEAD!

What do you love about iLEAD Online? What sets it apart from other schools?

Like many others, I love the flexibility iLEAD Online offers to both my learners and myself. Schooling does not have to follow the same schedule every day; choices of what, when, where and how exist. I can take my job with me wherever I go, as can our learners. I find communication within the program to be stellar. Everyone I interact with is so helpful and friendly, across the board; such true professionals!

What are some events you enjoy at iLEAD Online?

I enjoy seeing and hearing from learners about the events offered for them to connect, such as field trips, camps and college tours. I also enjoy seeing learners’ projects, which facilitators share on Slack; very inspirational to me! I love the encouragement of creativity and project-based learning.

In your opinion, what makes a great leader?

A great leader has to be a participator! The leader needs to remember life in the trenches and operate accordingly. To me, a leader gets to that position in order to lead, organize and coordinate the whole group’s potential for success and innovation.

There are great social-emotional learning activities/opportunities at iLEAD Online. Can you share a story about seeing learners using them in action?

One of the things I try to instill with my learners is that they can relax in learning something at which they view themselves as “not good.” I’m here to help a learner move from A to B in a calm, reflective way. For example, mastering multiplication facts is an area where I see learners get uptight. I try to remove the affective filter, so that learners can relax, think more clearly, and make connections.

What does a day in your school life look like?

On the days I tutor, I get up, get a cup of coffee and begin prepping for my appointments. Sometimes this can take up to two hours, especially if I’m trying to come up to speed with a high schooler’s place in a piece of literature, so that I can assist with the assignment. Believe it or not, this is a relaxing time for me. After four years of tutoring, I have built quite a file of previous lesson preparations. Then, the appointments begin, and I move through the day with a first grader firming up beginning sounds, to freshman biology Gismos, to pre-algebra learners with slope-intercept problems, or a learner on a special project, etc. I am constantly communicating with learners, parents, facilitators, and coaches on the side, or after my appointments are through for the day.

Name four fun/interesting facts about you. Extra credit for lots of details.

In my seventies, fun and interesting have changed a lot for me.

• I must say tutoring helps with my vitality of life. When a middle schooler likes doing math with me, and we laugh and talk through our session, I feel such gratifying fulfillment…plus, I stay a little bit hip with the times as a result!
• I no longer have horses, but they are still a passion from my first memories on, as I was raised on ranches in middle to southern California.
• I love camping, the great outdoors, and wildflowers.
• For the past seven years, I have been part of a small mountain community where I get to shovel snow in winter, but I don’t have to leave the house to go to work! This community cares about its people in a way I haven’t experienced before. Life is good!

With a deep commitment to learning and a knack for building meaningful connections, Ms. Ruth exemplifies the dedication and spirit that sets iLEAD Online apart. Join us in celebrating Ms. Ruth!