Profile of a Volunteer

  I have been very fortunate to have had extremely helpful volunteers.  Having a volunteer makes working with children a little stressful.  One volunteer that sticks out in my mind is a parent I had my third year of teaching.  This parent was well known around the school, was always volunteering for the school and was a board member on the PTA.  She not only helped in her children's classrooms, but did various events and worked with other teachers as well.  This parent supported all of the children and the children felt comfortable enough to work with her and talk to her.  

 

 Since this parent was able to work with the school staff, children, and families so well she did man things.  Children would run up to her and giver her hugs and show excitement, staff would be relieved when they saw this parent in charge of certain activities knowing it would be well ran.  Families would bring concerns to her because they knew she was understanding and had a good relationship with the school.  The school was a better place because of this parent.  It was because of this parent that teachers wanted to go above and beyond to help the children in the school.  This parent did not make teaching feel like work, but rather a service you did for the betterment of the children and families.

  After several experiences similar to this one, I have realized that partnering with volunteers is a crucial part of working in advocacy.  Volunteers are just as dedicated to the work in advocacy as I am, but may not be able to make it a full time career.  Volunteers are also not limited to certain rules and can sometimes form bonds that advocates cannot.  Volunteers can also spend the time building relationships than worrying about the politics of the issues.  Volunteers are part of the glue that holds relationships together to form strong bonds.