As we celebrate this season of gratitude, we’re especially thankful for the tutors who bring heart, humor, and whole worlds of experience into their work with Chatham Literacy learners. And few people embody that spirit more fully than longtime tutor Lynette “Tempest” — a woman whose passport is nearly as full as her heart for teaching.
Tempest came to Chatham Literacy in 2011, but her journey as a tutor began long before that.
“I used to work in New Mexico with their literacy program, and I was so impressed with it,” she explained. When she and her husband moved back to North Carolina so that he could complete his medical residency, she was determined to keep tutoring. Chapel Hill had enough volunteers, Durham didn’t call her back — “I called them twice!” she laughed — so she tried Chatham. “I really, really, really wanted to tutor,” she said, “and Chatham responded.” She’s been with Chatham Literacy ever since.
Over the years, she has taught GED prep, ESOL, and citizenship, guiding learners through milestones big and small. One student from the Gambia passed his final GED writing exam with her help. Another, Abimael Hernandez, who is featured in our 2025 impact report, just became a U.S. citizen. “We’ve even gotten together for dinner a few times,” Tempest said warmly. Her students don’t just learn from her — they stay connected.
But Tempest isn’t only a tutor. She’s a world traveler with a deep love for learning from the people she meets. “When our kids were in their 20s, we traveled a lot — to Asia, South America, the Caribbean, Egypt. I’ve never been to Europe,” she said with a grin. “I’m not interested in Europe. I want to go to developing countries.”
Tempest’s curiosity is boundless, and so is her heart. That’s exactly why she tutors.
“My profession was teaching, and I enjoy it. I even enjoy making lesson plans,” she said. “Once you retire, you have to have something to keep you useful. And I truly, truly enjoy working with adults. It is so much more rewarding now than it was working with children.”
Her joy shows. It’s why she has been with us for more than a decade, why her students thrive, and why she encourages others — like her neighbor Gill Keelan — to join.
“I mentioned it to him once, and before I could even get him the application, he’d already gone to the office and started the training,” she said. “People really do want opportunities like this.”
This season, as we reflect on gratitude, we celebrate tutors like Tempest — people who give not only their time, but also their stories, their passion, and their compassion.
And although she has lived in California, Africa, and Asia, she has chosen to give her gifts right here in Chatham County.
“I’ve seen Chatham Literacy evolve so much since I started,” she said. “It’s almost unrecognizable from what it was. We’re meeting the needs of the community now.”
And because of tutors like Tempest, students meet their own needs — and their own dreams — too.