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50 °F Forecast | Road Cams Thursday, November 25, 2004 Today's News | Classifieds | Autos | Homes | Jobs | Tempo | Health | Community | Home Delivery SECTIONS Home Page Local News Sports Business Obituaries Life Opinion - Politics Tempo AP News Weather Classified Archives Site Map SPECIAL SECTIONS Since We Asked Outdoor Journal Menu Guide How To Guide Wellness Connection Readers' Choice Real Estate Showcase Joy Magazine Homelife Magazine Wedding Guide Passport to the Rogue Valley EXTRA Newspaper in Education Personals Movie Times TV Times E The People MARKETPLACE Find a Car Find a Home Find a Job Classifieds Place an ad eSouthernOregon Automotive Communities Entertainment Publications Recreation Calendar CUSTOMER SERVICE Frequent Questions Advertising Information Home Delivery Employment Contact Us Media Kit Network Affiliate Oregon Road Conditions & Cams Email Story to a Friend November 15, 2004 Kids Unlimited volunteer Molly Tinsley helps Juan Quintero, a 16-year-old South Medford High School junior, with his algebra homework. Mail Tribune / Roy Musitelli A role model with heart Hometown Hero: An occasional series By SANNE SPECHT Mail Tribune The teens kicking back on overstuffed couches at Kids Unlimited are bantering back and forth with director Tom Case and volunteer Molly Tinsley. It’s the kind of easy interaction you might find where there is true affection — and respect. As Case teases the boys and girls on their basketball prowess — or lack thereof — laughter rebounds off the room’s art-filled walls. Between her more gentle asides, Tinsley helps 16-year-old Juan Quintero with his homework. Tinsley, 61, is a volunteer with the after-school homework program at the Medford youth organization based at VIBES Main 1. And she’s a big reason some of the kids who spend time there do better in their schoolwork. Quintero, a South Medford High School junior, enjoys math and is working through what appears to be the world's longest algebra problem. Just when the two think they have come to the end of the /italic/" x = y " /italic/ equation, Juan discovers there are more fractions to be reduced to their common denominator — and grins at Tinsley. Advertisement "You have got a lot of endurance," says Tinsley. "I admire that." Tinsley’s also got a lot of endurance, and the kids admire that about her, too, says Case. "She's extremely patient. And very non-judgmental. That allows (the kids) to learn from her — not being tied to changing who they are." Juan's sister, Rubi, is an eighth-grader at McLoughlin Middle School. Rubi says Tinsley helped her get better grades in all her subjects. "Most of them went up to A's," says Rubi. Adrianna Arazaga, 13, says Tinsley has helped her, too. "She makes it seem easier than the assignments say. She puts it into better words." Putting things into better words is second nature to Tinsley. In addition to being a published author with short stories, plays and a much-renowned artistic bible "The Creative Process" to her credit, the retired college professor spent 20 years teaching Annapolis midshipmen to articulate their thoughts in creative writing classes. "Nobody else wanted to teach it," says Tinsley, who became the first professor emerita at the famed U.S. Naval Academy near the nation’s capital. Tinsley will be the first to tell you she sometimes wonders if what she's doing at Kids Unlimited is enough. Public school systems are overburdened and underfunded. Social services continue to be slashed. And the kids are suffering, she says. "Sometimes I get discouraged. Some of them come here and you just know their situation is not good. You know they aren't going to get support at home — or even dinner." But Rubi says Wednesday is her favorite day to come to Kids Unlimited — because that’s the afternoon Tinsley comes, too. The shy teen says she wants to become a pediatrician — or a teacher. Another of Tinsley's after-schoolers, Danny Banuelos, 14 — also in the eighth grade at McLoughlin— was October's Student of the Month. As the group needles the squirming but proud youth about a speech he gave to the student body, Case and Tinsley encouraged the boy to repeat what he told his peers. "I promised to stay in school and that I would go to college," he says. "And then what did you say?" prompts Case. "I promised I would give back to the community." Tinsley is comforted by Banuelos' "pay it forward" promises. And uncomfortable at being the subject of a "Hometown Hero" article. "Please," Tinsley says. "As far as heroic activities — it's the kids who come and work this stuff out who are the heroes." Reach reporter Sanne Specht at 776-4497 or e-mail [email protected] Mail Tribune Home Local News | Sports | Business | Obituaries | Life Opinion - Politics | AP News | Archives | Site Map E Southern Oregon | Classified Copyright © 1997-2004 Mail Tribune. All rights reserved. Privacy Policy | Terms & Conditions Website Feedback ADVERTISERS A D V E R T I S E R S SPECIAL SECTIONS Auto Finder Job Finder Home Finder Joy Magazine Homelife Magazine Tempo Readers' Choice Real Estate Showcase Since We Asked Outdoor Journal Moving to Southern Oregon? Volunteer Opportunities