Volunteer & Mentoring Programs

Purpose

To utilize the talents of individuals within the regular school program and to provide greater educational opportunities and services for students

Volunteers may help in the classroom by:

• Mentoring/tutoring students
• Listening to students read or reading to students
• Leading instructional games
• Setting up science projects and assisting with labs
• Assisting with a school club, organization, or booster club
• Assisting in the library 

Volunteers may help in the office or workroom by:

• Copying materials or laminating teaching materials
• Entering computer data
• Answering the phone or making phone calls to verify student absences

Volunteers may help at home by:

• Making instructional materials as instructed by teachers 
• Pulling resource information off the Internet 

Volunteers may also help by:

• Speaking to classes about careers or other topics
• Chaperoning school-sponsored activities
• Assisting with special events, class parties, etc.
• Handing out or soliciting rewards to honor roll students
• Assisting school nurses
• Assisting yearbook book staffs or PTA groups 
• Serving as a judge at an academic contest 

Tips for Classroom Volunteers

Meet with your assigned teacher to discuss specific duties. You can do any task that will free the teacher to work with children.

• Discuss with the teacher anything you may want to do and any problems you may have during the year.
• Be a warm, caring, and enthusiastic person who will be a pleasure to have in the classroom.
• Be a good adult model for students in regards to behavior, attitude, speech, and dress. Professionalism, courtesy, and flexibility are all assets of a classroom volunteer.
• Be aware that many things you may hear and see are subject to student confidentiality laws.
• Never discuss specific student issues or problems outside the classroom environment. We are responsible not only for educating our children but also for protecting their privacy. However, if you ever suspect a child has been abused, notify the teacher, counselor, and/or other officials immediately.
• Help every child's self-esteem by expressing as much approval as possible. (Remember, each child, just like each adult, is an individual.)
• Remember that teaching is not as easy as it looks. Stand as one with the teacher at all times. Refrain from criticism and supplement lessons only as the teacher has instructed.
• Be quiet when helping children. Extra noise is distracting.
• If appreciation for the gift of your time, energy and skill is not always expressed, it does not mean that your services are not valued.

When you're in the classroom, remember to...

• Be prompt
• Be attentive
• Speak quietly
• Support the teacher(s)
• Follow teacher directions
• Be warm, friendly, and courteous
• Keep channels of communications honest and open

• Sign in and sign out so that the office staff can locate you in an emergency. If the school has an electronic check-in or check out ask how you can add your travel time. (This also helps the Volunteer Coordinator keep track of volunteer hours. Please include travel time in your recorded volunteer hours.)
• Always wear your volunteer name tag so you are identifiable for the safety of our students and schools.
• Dependability is a must. Always be on time or call ahead in case of an absence.
• Remember that the teachers and principals are the professionals on campus and are in charge. You are at school to help or have been invited as a part of the community.
• Be aware that many things you may hear and see are subject to student confidentiality laws, so never discuss school policies, problems, or procedures in front of students or to others outside of the school environment. However, if you ever suspect a child has been abused, notify the teacher, counselor, and/or other officials immediately.
• Volunteers must appreciate the diversity of the students and be respectful of the U.S. Constitution’s prohibition of establishing or sponsoring any religion in the schools. All volunteers’/mentors’ efforts during the school day must be non-sectarian in nature.
• If working with a specific teacher, meet with him/her to discuss specific duties and offer to do any task that will free the teacher to provide more instruction to the students.
• Know where to park because parking is a premium at some schools.
• Serve as a good role model for students in behavior, attitude, speech, and dress. Professionalism, courtesy, and flexibility are all assets of a classroom volunteer. 
• Help boost every child’s self-esteem by expressing as much approval as possible and refraining from criticism.

Become a mentor. Help strengthen our community. 

All children have the potential to succeed in life and contribute to society. However, not all children get the support they need to thrive. Mentoring happens when caring individuals provide young people with support, advice, friendship, reinforcement, and constructive examples. Mentoring can and does help young people succeed, no matter what their circumstances!  At its most basic level, mentoring helps because it lets young people know that they have others who care about them, and who will listen to their dreams and help them achieve their goals.

LEARN MORE ABOUT MENTORING