New Volunteer Program at Local Schools

by Sharon Higgins

Two neighborhood schools, Laurel Elementary and Bret Harte Middle School, have been chosen as "Promise Schools" by the district's volunteer placement program, HEROES. HEROES, Helpers Engaged in Reaching Oakland's Excelling Schools, was created three years ago by the Volunteer Center of Alameda County to serve as a comprehensive program for community members who wanted to get involved in Oakland's public schools. The Volunteer Center of Alameda County is an official Partner with America's Promise, a national organization committed to helping children that was started by General Colin Powell during the Clinton administration.

Superintendent Dennis Chaconas supports HEROES which will create a more structured setting at the schools for community members to connect with as volunteers.

The process started last spring when the schools agreed to participate in the program and on-site volunteer coordinators were identified. Philina Armstrong, Healthy Start Academic Mentor at Laurel Elementary, and Sharon Higgins, a Parent Center Coordinator at Bret Harte Middle School, will be responsible for local volunteer recruitment, placement, and guidance. They will work with teachers and staff to assess ways in which volunteers are needed at the schools, then match these needs with people who have signed up to volunteer. They will be providing support and assistance to the volunteers on a regular basis. Philina and Sharon will be assisted by Jimmy Savage, a Vista volunteer from HEROES' main office.

Last year successfully launched the first year for the program in three elementary schools and one middle school. This year the program includes three more elementary schools, one more middle school, and one of the city's alternative high schools.

The work a volunteer may do at Laurel or Bret Harte will vary. Teachers may need help decorating a bulletin board, filing papers, or doing special art projects with students. Children sometimes need a reading buddy, tutoring, or homework help. School gardens need ongoing care. Having more adults present during lunchtime is a big help. Technology assistance is always needed at the schools. Laurel and Bret Harte have many families who speak limited English, so help with translating is needed. Volunteers may like to coach, be a guest speaker, or assist at a special event. Both schools have after-school programs that may need help. It is suggested that ongoing volunteers give one-half to one hour per week for at least one semester. This level of commitment allows a deeper relationship to develop between volunteers, the children, and the school.

To become a HEROES volunteer, one must complete the application form, have a negative TB test, and attend a one-hour orientation class. If they are working with children, volunteers must be under the supervision and within eye contact of a certified OUSD employee. Volunteers need to be fingerprinted if they do an activity that is unsupervised.

Oakland's children deserve to have an enhanced educational experience. Your time and talents could make a huge difference for them. To find out more, check out www.oaklandheroes.org. Of additional interest may be volunteeronline.org, or americaspromise.org. For further information, contact Sharon Higgins at 879-2068 or Philina Armstrong at 879-1310.