(Topic Title: Tutors Learning

Together)
PURPOSE
Thank you for participating in this process to (one sentence explanation of
your topic: strengthen our support and training for our generous volunteer
tutors). As an AmeriCorps Member, (name) is leading this process at
(organization) as part of his/her year of service through NEO Literacy Corps.
The purpose of this project is (benefit for the organization: to create a tutor
training curriculum). The goal is to build on the strengths of (organization)’s
current services and replicate past successes in order to (broad goal: support
tutors to create their best possible learning experience).

BACKGROUND
The mission of (organization) is “(mission: to act justly, love tenderly, and
walk humbly with each other).” As part of this mission, (information about
service: organization x provides afterschool tutoring for elementary school
children who come to the drop-in center). More details about program at it
relates to the topic: number of tutors, where located, what training currently
offered, goals of program, community partners that help with training, etc.
As an AmeriCorps member and (role in organization) it is my responsibility to
increase (organization)’s capacity to provide quality, interconnected, and/or
outcomes oriented literacy services through a concrete and sustainable
project.

Overview of the Interview Process

Process to be discussed & decided at the November 19th training.

Tips for Conducting Interviews

Use the interview questions section for script guidelines and note taking.
You may choose not to use all of the questions or adapt the questions to
what works best for your interview.

Really listen to the other person. Be genuinely curious about their thoughts
& experiences.
Some people will take longer to think about their answers; allow for silence.

Don’t squash negatives, but look deeper to find the positive ideal image or
small successes from negative experiences.

Respect the time limit so both can have an equal turn to share.

Work from specific experiences to the general “life-giving” values. Use these
questions to probe further:
• Can you tell me more?
• Why was that important to you?
• How did that affect you?
• What was your contribution?
• How were you supported?
• How has it changed you?

Interview Guide
Suggested opening: I am going to ask you questions about things that have
interested you in your work at (organization). You may be more familiar with
change initiatives that focus on things that aren’t working well—problems—
so we can fix them. In this case, we are going to find out about your work
and organization at its best—the successes—so we can find out what works
in order to build on and replicate it to build capacity at (organization).
Questions are like tools, and in this case we want to build a beautiful addition
to an existing house, not fix a leaky faucet. The goal of this interview is to
(information you are trying to gather: find out more about your experience
with the afterschool program) that will increase the vitality, effectiveness,
and success of (organization or service: our afterschool tutoring program)
going forward into the future.

I. Celebrating (organization)’s (mission and services: afterschool

tutoring program)

To start, I’d like to learn more about your experiences (in

organization/service: at the afterschool program).

What is your role there?

What are three core factors that give life to (the organization/service:
afterschool tutoring program), without which the (organization/service:
tutoring program) would cease to exist?

1.

2.

3.

Without being modest, what do you value most about yourself, and your role
at (organization/service: afterschool tutoring program), and the
(organization/service: afterschool tutoring program)?

Tell me about a high point when you were involved in (positive change or
topic in some way: a tutoring session or individualized learning experience)
that was particularly meaningful for you. What did you and others do to
make this experience (positive traits: engaging, meaningful, effective)?

When is (organization/service: afterschool tutoring program) at its best in

terms of (positive goals of topic: providing tutors with the information and
opportunities to develop skills they need to create a great learning
environment)? Why?

II. Your vision for the future of (organization/topic: tutor training)

Imagine you have awakened from a long, deep sleep and everything (related
to this topic: in the afterschool tutor program/tutor training) is as you always
dreamed it would be. Your ideal state has become the reality. What do you
see? What is going on? How have things changed?
Which of these changes are you most enthusiastic about? Why?

Interview Summary Sheet

Name of Interviewee:

Role:

Interviewer Name:

Date:

Overall, what was your sense of what was most important to this person?

Please share any quotable quotes or compelling stories that came from this
interview:

Which core factors give life to (org/service)?

1.

2.

3.
What would this person change to create their ideal (org/service/topic: tutor
training)?