In putting volunteers to work, Hicks says, school personnel try to pair jobs with the volunteer s skills and interests so the work can be as varied as the individual. They re the icing on the cake. Helpers grade papers, research, even shop Schools rely on volunteers for a wide variety of services to students. For some jobs, volunteers hardly see the inside of a classroom. We always need people who can go shopping for us, says Eagle Point s Glenn D. Hale School Principal Joni Parsons.
Teachers sometimes run out of time to get to the store for supplies for various projects.
Someone who can deliver supplies is always appreciated and fully reimbursed, Parsons says. Volunteers not only save teachers time but provide students immediate feedback on what they ve done well and where they need more work. The program is administered outside the schools, but some schools offer their own version of the reading program. Volunteers who can pre-cut parts and glue pieces can make complicated projects possible. Volunteers can bring special knowledge, experience and abilities to augment classroom instruction.