Working 40 to 50 hours a week, putting in occasional stints as a chamber “Redcoat” ambassador, involvement with Relay for Life, and doing things for her church, you might think the best part of Susan Ryerson’s week might be a soothing bath or candlelit dinner with her husband.

Nope.

It’s the mere hour she puts in each week at Puesta del Sol Elementary as a “big sister” to Jaleesa, a shy second-grader in Jackie Rodriguez’s classroom. “It’s my favorite hour of the week,” Ryerson, the former executive director of ReadWest in Rio Rancho, said before a recent session with Jaleesa. “The hour goes by so fast.”

Ryerson has been associated with Big Brothers Big Sisters of Central New Mexico since last October; the organization provided her with a full-time job as partnership manager. Her husband, Mark, a marketing manager, is a Big Brother.

Ryerson empathizes with the children and teens helped in the school setting or outside the classroom — although she meets Jaleesa at school, in the “site-based” program; the “community-based” program features the “bigs” picking up the “littles” and taking them out to hike, play in the park, attend sporting events, etc.

“I love kids, number one,” she said. “(And) I was kind of an at-risk kid. I had divorced parents and I was abused.

“I wish I would have had a ‘Big Sister,’ ” Ryerson said. “I had two older brothers and they didn’t care. It caused me to be shy. I didn’t want to draw attention to myself. We see a lot of kids in Rio Rancho who come from rough backgrounds.”

Like most of the “little sisters/little brothers,” Jaleesa happily awaits her time with her “big.” Just the one hour she has been spending Thursday mornings with Ryerson since January have helped her in the classroom and in everyday life.

She said the first 15 minutes each week are spent on math. “We want to reinforce what their teachers are doing,” she said.

The children’s parents or guardians have to be on board with the program, of course.

“Don’t think Big Brothers Big Sisters is there to take their place,” Ryerson said. “(We’re there) to encourage them, to say, ‘Hang in there,’ ‘Stay in school and graduate.’ ”

Every Thursday morning, the two chitchat, enjoy snacks and laugh for the other 45 minutes — or longer. Ryerson said one day the two were so busy having fun that Jaleesa almost missed lunch.

The quiet little girl with the long hair and shy smile has gained confidence, says her teacher. Enough to confide that she likes dogs, riding a horse at her grandparents’ ranch, that blue is her favorite color and that she wears a helmet when she rides her bicycle.

“She looks forward to see her on Thursday,” Rodriguez said. “She smiles a lot and she’s more willing to respond. She’s still quiet and reserved — that’s part of her personality.”

Ryerson said she has noticed some of Jaleesa’s classmates seem envious of Jaleesa’s big sister. Rodriguez said that’s natural. They need that one-on-one time.”

Rodriguez, obviously, can’t provide a lot of one-on-one time because she has 20 other students in her room. In her first year with Rio Rancho Public Schools, and 10 years before that with schools in Pecos and Santa Fe, “It’s a rewarding experience to have (Ryerson).”

Ryerson, always on the lookout for “bigs,” said there are 1,500 BBBS matches in Albuquerque and 100 in Rio Rancho. There are more boys on the waiting list, she said, and, naturally, background checks are performed — at BBBS’s expense — and references are checked, plus an interview is done with prospective volunteers. Interview responses help BBBS partner the bigs with the littles. Then there’s a two-hour training session — and a minimum commitment of one year.

Ryerson said Rio Rancho Public Schools has been a big supporter of BBBS, as have area businesses and churches, the City of Rio Rancho, Intel, Sprint and other businesses, plus the New Mexico Scorpions. Center Jamie Herrington was a “big” this past season, and the Scorpions auctioned off jerseys after one recent game, with the proceeds benefiting BBBS.

“Bigs” and “littles” may be as young as 16, although they’re not allowed to transport their “littles” and confine their meetings within the schools.

Ryerson isn’t necessarily a miracle worker; being a dependable, trusting mentor is the premise and it pays dividends.

She may be getting more out of the weekly interaction than Jaleesa.

“I’m having a blast,” she said. And Ryerson said she hopes to attend Jaleesa’s graduation, which would be in 2019.

Heck, Ryerson will only be 53 then. Still young enough — and probably with enough energy — to start all over with another “little.”

If you think you have what it takes to be a “big,” and an hour or two to spare each week, you can learn more about BBBS at inspireachildtodream.org, or give Ryerson a call at 974-5307.

“We’re always recruiting for volunteers,” she said.