We are committed to a positive experience for our volunteers from the moment of contact with us and throughout the time the volunteer is with our program. Volunteers are an important part of our school community and we value your involvement and dedication.  

VIP coordinates community volunteers.  These are defined as youth (age 16+) and adults who are not parents nor legal guardians of current students in our district.  If you are a parent or guardian of a current student, please contact your student’s school or program directly about volunteering.

To become a VIP volunteer:

1. Complete the Volunteer Application. Once we receive your application, we will contact you.  If you prefer to first talk with the VIP staff, please contact VIP Coordinator.

2. Arrange for an interview and orientation with the VIP staff.  This time spent together gives us a chance to explore just the right fit for each volunteer, review important District policy information, and prepare you for the upcoming assignment. The interview/orientation lasts about an hour.  

3. Complete the background and/or reference checks.  Adults complete online background checks via a link provided form The McDowell Agency.  Two references are requested on the VIP application.

Volunteers support our students, schools, and programs in many ways, serving learners from preschool age through adults. From ongoing to one-time events, in direct service to learners to behind the scenes, each volunteer’s contribution is appreciated and makes a difference.  Volunteers add value working with students at all ability levels by providing extra help for individualized instruction. 

We understand matching the volunteer with an opportunity that best suits the volunteer’s interests, talents and availability helps promote a more personal, rewarding, and successful experience.  Most volunteer opportunities are available during the school day and year, with some options occurring in the evening and summer. Here are just a few of the many opportunities (more information is available in the VIP Handbook ): 

1-1 Helper or Small Group Leader

Focus on either tasks being completed that day in class or areas in which the learner needs extra attention to help master a skill; help in all subject areas is welcome, especially in literacy and math.

One-time Events 

Provide assistance for special events or projects

Clerical Support or Classroom Helper

Assist with office duties; provide teacher prep support

Vision Screening

Receive training to conduct vision screenings for elementary school students

Grounds

Tidy plant beds in front of the school

Media Center

Check materials in and out, shelve books, assist students in finding materials

Before and After School Programs

Engage students a variety of activities;   assist with school work

Story Theater

Perform with a troupe to provide dramatic readings of children’s books to preschool and elementary school students

Adult Learners

Support adults learning English, achieving citizenship, earning their General Equivalency Diploma, or gaining academic skills following a traumatic brain injury or stroke (Volunteers need to be at least 18 years old to assist adult learners)

Area of Interest

Let us know if you have a specific or unique skill you would  like to share with students

Commitment to Building Partnerships 

Volunteers In Partnership (VIP) continues to explore opportunities with business, faith, higher education institutions, and non-profit organizations to work together to meet our mutual goals. A variety of organizations work with VIP as a reflection of their commitment to service and belief that supporting education strengthens the communities in which we live. 

Corporate Partnerships

Provide academic support and  enrichment programming, grants for books, matching funds for volunteers’ service hours, gift certificates to honor youth volunteers, help at special events,  and financial support of the annual VIP Volunteer Recognition Event.  

Faith Communities 

Support our schools through the Food Pack initiative, collect Box Tops for Education, tutoring, scholarships for field trips, winter clothing and school supplies collections, in-kind contributions, and help with special events.  

Higher Education Institutions

Metro area colleges and universities provide volunteers through their service learning programs, practicum placements, and more. They also collaborate with VIP to develop programs to better meet the needs of our students.                                                                                      

Non-Profit Organizations 

Contribute volunteers, conduct workshops to expand volunteers’ skills, assist with the Food Pack initiative, help develop programming, collaborate on best volunteer management practices, and provide grants for literacy initiatives.

Secondary Schools/Youth Volunteers

High schools within our district and beyond contribute volunteers who tutor young learners, help at special events, and assist with after school programs in our elementary schools.  

VIP streamlines the placement process through our administrative office which is managed by  the Coordinator and Program Specialist. In the elementary schools and the Adult Academic Program, VIP’s Academic Volunteer Coordinators (AVCs) provide on-site assistance with volunteer placements and additional support. VIP staff are committed to ensuring your experience is rewarding and our placement process is designed intentionally to prepare you for success. Volunteers are welcome to contact their AVC and/or the VIP administrative staff  for assistance at any time. 

Academic Volunteer Coordinators (AVCs)

* Robbinsdale Spanish Immersion         

Staff recognize volunteers are an important part of the educational team and add value to our classrooms and programs. It is important the volunteer and staff create a positive working relationship, rooted in mutual respect, good communication, flexibility, and shared goals for the students’ success. 

Staff are encouraged to contact the VIP administrators or their site’s Academic Volunteer Coordinator if we may be of assistance at any time.

Resources for staff to effectively engage and supervise volunteers:

community volunteer Request form

GUIDELINES FOR SUPERVISING A VOLUNTEER

suggestions for engaging volunteers

Teacher: 

"My volunteers have helped me tremendously this past year.  Each day, I had at least one "grandparent" volunteer from 10-12.  Having them with us helped me to differentiate learning, but also to give extra attention to kiddos needing more social emotional help as well.  With Robbinsdale making a shift towards more blended classroom learning, the volunteers were a major asset to my class when it came to revising assignments as we worked towards mastery of content."  

"I just wanted to say, thank you so much for placing them with us!  We have enjoyed having them very much!  They make my job go so much more smoothly and the kids have loved having a grandparent presence in our classroom every single day!  I'd love to have volunteers again next year if possible!"

Volunteer:  

"Volunteering this year has been an enjoyable and meaningful experience for me.  XXXX, my supervisor, is an excellent teacher.  She cares a lot about the students, is well prepared for her classes and uses fun and active techniques to involve her students in the lessons."

"This contact with the children and seeing their progress is an important part of my week during the school year.  The vision screening is important, and I will continue to volunteer, but the individual contact with students on a weekly basis is something special!"

"Ms. XXX is an excellent supervisor - she is always prepared and keeps me engaged with a variety of students and with a variety of tasks."

"I speak for myself,  but I’m sure other volunteers would agree, the hours spent as a volunteer are as much a growth for us as they are for the elementary students we  are  getting to know.   Some of them are in need of help learning while others just need someone to talk with them.  Or listen to them, or hug them, or maybe just smile at them. I find it difficult to put into words how much I glean from the time spent with these children.   My reward is at the beginning of our time on any given day,  watching their little faces light up when I walk into their room.  And…at the end of that day,  the hugs and smiles I receive as we bid our goodbyes until the next time we will meet."