 The Alachua County School Volunteer Program Program Overview |
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For more information,
Email Liz Stark: starkef@gm.sbac.edu |
Specific programs operated through the district office include: Community Resource Volunteer Program The Community Resource Volunteer Program maintains a database of community volunteers who are willing to go into the classrooms at the request of teachers to share their expertise with students. Speakers enhance curriculum by sharing information about careers, hobbies, travels, experiences, etc. Teen Trendsetter Reading Mentors Program Teen Trendsetters Reading Mentors is an award-winning program that recruits and trains high school students to mentor third graders in reading. Teens are asked to commit to one hour each week (minimum ten/semester) and are matched with elementary students at a partnered school. Recruited teens are trained to work with a specialized 40-minute curriculum developed by the Volunteer USA Foundation in cooperation with Scholastic, called Brain Storm. The curriculum consists of three topic areas, each with a 10-session, skill-based student magazine, a comprehensive tutor guide and books to become part of the elementary student’s home library. Contact Liz Stark at the School Volunteer Office for participating high schools. Please visit the Teen Trendsetter website for more information at www.teentrendsetters.org.
Partners in Education CHAMPS The “CHAMPS” (Collegiates Helping As Mentors in Public Schools) Program began as a partnership with the student government at the University of Florida in 1991. Over 4000 students have volunteered since the program began. Volunteers commit to be matched, one-to-one with children in elementary and middle schools, and as special friends, to visit them at school, during school, once each week, for about an hour. Volunteers commit for one semester, although many continue beyond. Formal recruitment, orientation, and placement of volunteers is done at the beginning of fall and spring semesters. Rockin’ Readers This program is designed to impact at risk children between the ages of four and six who have tested below their peer group in language development and pre-reading skills. Volunteers come into the school once a week to read aloud, individually, to two to three children. College Volunteers Each semester, the district office recruits and places thousands of students from the University of Florida and Santa Fe Community College as volunteers in area schools. Teachers submit requests and sign ups are held within the first two weeks of classes. We collaborate with professors at both institutions to provide their students with opportunities to experience working with children in public schools. The purpose of the Foster Grandparent Program is to provide volunteer assignments for low-income senior citizens 60 years of age or older with special needs children. Foster Grandparents are seniors who devote 15-40 hours per week to the service of children who have developmental, emotional, physical, or medical challenges. A non-taxable stipend of $2.65 per hour, travel reimbursement, and one meal a day are provided. Contact Norma Berger at 264-6757 or go to the Foster Grandparent website for more information. |
While the Alachua
County School Volunteer program is coordinated at the district level, it
is essentially school based. Principals appoint school-level
volunteer coordinators each year. The district office provides the
structure and materials needed for operating an organized program and
provides assistance and training in areas of recruitment, record
keeping, orientation and training of staff and volunteers, recognition,
public relations, and program evaluation. The district office
promotes and facilitates parent and community involvement in education
and provides recognition for volunteers and partners.