|
Task |
Who is responsible? |
Date |
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Identify faith community coordinator to work with
school coordinator, recruit and communicate with volunteers. |
|
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Identify school coordinator specifically
responsible for faith community program volunteers to work with faith
community coordinator, communicate with staff. |
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Meeting with two coordinators, Partnership and
Volunteer Program representative, faith community pastor, and principal
to complete partnership expectation sheet and begin to discuss needs. |
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Faith community coordinator begins recruitment of
volunteers from the congregation – make sure volunteer applications and
application procedures available at faith community office. Provide
school calendar of events and volunteer job descriptions to faith
community coordinators. |
|
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|
School coordinator begins identification of school
volunteer needs
Principal, school coordinator announce program and solicit specific
volunteer requests |
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Both coordinators conduct training session for
volunteers including:
a. distribute volunteer handbook
b. meet key personnel
c. build excitement and a group identity
d. discuss expectations of volunteers (commitment, reliability, etc.)
e. review logistics such as nametags, parking,
school calendar, school information, culture, oath/agreement, etc.
f. conduct specialized training in literacy (20-minutes)
g. begin making placements
h. complete paperwork/computer registration **remind
volunteers they cannot begin until application is processed and CBI
background check is cleared |
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Faith community coordinator works with school
coordinator to finalize volunteer placements. |
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School coordinator schedules a time to meet new
volunteers at the school or notifies front office staff of volunteer
placements. Provide principal or office staff with a volunteer
placement chart prior to the week all faith community volunteers begin. |
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School coordinator notifies teachers of volunteer’s
name, phone number, email and short bio prior to the first day of
volunteering. |
|
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School coordinator arranges to have someone
familiar with the school (coordinator, principal, office staff) meet
volunteer at school prior to their first volunteer session to give a
brief tour including:
a. Location of bathrooms
b.
Check-in procedures/nametag location
c.
Classroom location
d.
Staff lounge
e.
Parking, etc. |
|
|
|
Volunteer works with teacher on specific ‘job
description’ details of volunteer placement. Make sure teacher has
email and phone number of volunteers. Ensure that volunteers know how
to notify school or teacher (phone and/or email) if they are unable to
volunteer on a given day. |
|
|
 | Plan to start your first volunteers second semester
– make sure planning is done prior to placing volunteers. |
| Encourage principal or Partnership and Volunteer
Program staff to visit church. |
| Email – faith community coordinator and school
coordinator should both have email as an integral part of the
communications effort. |
| Recognition – make sure faith community volunteers
are part of the school’s recognition efforts. School coordinator or faith
community coordinator should personally invite volunteers to any
recognition event. Teachers write personal notes of thanks to volunteers
or students do special volunteer recognition. |
| Short (15-minute) presentation at staff meeting by
both coordinators. |
| Provide faith community volunteer coordinators a
copy of the PSD curriculum to help match volunteer interest areas. |
| Keep literacy coordinator in the communications loop
– internal staff member as liaison is helpful. |
| Focus on literacy at the beginning of the
relationship – too overwhelming with too many volunteer options – add more
options later as needs arise. |
| Faith community and school coordinators should meet
regularly with other coordinators (quarterly)
Faith community coordinator, school coordinator, principal, and pastor
meet at least twice a year. |
| Separate co-coordinators at schools for faith
community volunteers and regular parent volunteer program. |
| Make faith community volunteers feel welcome and
appreciated by identifying them as a special volunteer group within the
school (i.e.: have a designated area for their name tags, have a ‘Welcome
Faith community Volunteer’ sign in the office, etc. |
Other ideas for utilizing faith community
volunteers:
One-time guest speakers
Survey members of the congregation to
identify skills/talents
Fingerprinting/child i.d. at school
carnival
Science mentors/science fair judges
Odyssey of the Mind coaches
Coaching before- or after-school sports
School supplies for adopted school
Quotables:
“The children benefit, but
the faith community volunteers benefit too.”
“Faith community volunteers
are so faithful, regular and dependable.”
“We’re all seeing what a huge
job education is – and now we’re part of it!”
“Don’t take this faith
community volunteer away from me!”
