Over the past 12 years, our partnership with Burns & McDonnell has engaged hundreds of their associates as volunteers with Lead to Read KC—including 68 this year alone, more than any other organization in Kansas City. We spent time with one of them recently to chat about the experience and why he encourages his colleagues to volunteer too.
“I initially heard about Lead to Read KC during an info session lunch at work,” shares Seth Hensarling, who is currently reading with a first grader at Boone Elementary. Burns & McDonnell provides employee-owners with information about opportunities to learn about their community and how to make a positive impact. “I loved the concept and now I’m in my third year of volunteering.”
Hensarling says the best part of being a Reading Mentor is how connecting with a young reader is good for everyone. “Kids find the simple joys joyful and the wonders and truths of life wonderful – that is good medicine! Mentors and students benefit from being mutually excited to spend time together.”
He particularly enjoys the lively atmosphere at schools. “I love the noise and restrained chaos of elementary schools – quite unlike an engineering office,” he laughs. “When I’m popping in every week, it’s so uncomplicated. The Site Coordinators handle all the admin so I can just show up and read!”
Inspired by his parents, both teachers, Hensarling developed a devotion to books as a child. “I was good at math and science but spent a lot of my free time reading,” he recalls. “I remember eating up Where the Wild Things Are and Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs as a kid.”
That early love of reading gives Hensarling an innate sense of what can make sessions with his student more lively. “I think it matters that I am engaging with the story myself,” he explains. “Laughing at the story’s jokes and pointing out parts or themes of the story that I deem fun or sad or true. I also enjoy purposefully reading the story incorrectly (e.g., ‘Lightning McQueen was super… slow’). Then, the student wants to read it themselves to prove me wrong.”
He likes telling his coworkers they should check out Lead to Read KC opportunities. “Don’t spend all your lunch hours setting your fantasy football lineup or scrolling social media,” he advises. “You don’t need to be anything special – kids respond to a consistent, patient smile – anyone can do that.”
Are you ready to start reading? To kick off 2025 as a mentor, just head to leadtoreadkc.org/volunteer to get started.