*Here is just one example of a Goal Aligned Volunteer Project along with specific ways to implement, measure and celebrate.  This framework is outlined in more detail on the 'Getting Started' page.  One on one coaching sessions will provide you with specific supports where you and your school need them.   

SAMPLE:  GOAL-ALIGNED VOLUNTEER PROJECT WITH POSITION DESCRIPTIONS

School Goal: Student English Language Arts (ELA) Proficiency Rates

Volunteer Project: Targeted Support for Extra Reading Time

SMARTE Goal for this project:

80% of all students and 85% of students with the lowest reading scores will increase the amount of reading they do outside of the classroom by a minimum of 1 hour per week throughout November.

Volunteer Positions to support this project:

● Data Coordinator:  Gathers logs from teachers, inputs shares data

● Library Support:  Assists in purchasing, sorting, distribution of books

● Supervised volunteer(s):  1 or 2 (specialized tech goal)

● Supervised volunteer(s):  1 or 2 (general)

Evaluation/Goal Monitoring for this project:

● Develop and distribute reading log (date, times, etc.)- launch in classrooms with families (offer incentives)

● Track data weekly

Celebrate successes for this project:

● Classroom posters and School Announcements including Newsletters

● Families: Ongoing Marquee event

● Volunteers: Email communications

● Share project outcomes/celebration events, etc.

PRINCIPAL'S ROLE IN SUPPORTING VOLUNTEER COORDINATOR 

• FALL:  Meet with Volunteer Coordinator to identify school goals/priorities and discuss volunteer projects that will support them. Encourage your Volunteer Coordinator to register for Volunteer Coordinator Training and attend the virtual pre-training workshop with them.   

• NOV/DEC:  Binder review to identify areas that are working and opportunities for improvement. Share feedback with the Volunteer Coordinator.

• APRIL/MAY:  Meet with Volunteer Coordinator at the end of the year to identify what worked well, what needs improvement and initial review of next year's goals/priorities (what to keep, what to add, what to eliminate).  

1. Identify your School's Goals and complete the School Volunteer Program Goals and Volunteer Inventory Worksheet. 

   • Meet with the Principal and key stakeholders to identify and prioritize your school's goals.  Then identify volunteer projects that will support these goals and then utilize volunteer position descriptions to intentionally recruit and place volunteers to support these goals.  

   • Identify goals to relate to your school goals, 90-Day plans and the District's Goals.  They may include: Attendance, Reading/Language Arts Support, Math Support, Academic Achievement Gaps, Student and Staff Wellness and Recognition; School Climate; Basic Needs;  Social and Emotional Learning; and others...

   • Outline key elements of your goal using the SMARTE Goal Worksheet as reference.

2. Identify Volunteer Projects that will support your School Goals. 

   • Use the Linking Volunteers to Projects Worksheet to identify targeted job positions to support the project(s) and link them to all current and future volunteers.

   • Look at existing Volunteer Projects and link them to goals. 

   • Identify new projects that are needed to support goals.

3. Identify Volunteer Positions to support both the Volunteer Projects already in place and those that have been identified to support goals.  

   • Think of all the functions needed to support the projects that will support your goals. 

   • Consider the role of the position rather than the person doing them. 

   • Identify how volunteers are currently helping and think of all of the functions for each role, from skills, type of clearance, time and location commitments, etc. 

   • Identify how you will evaluate each project and position.

   • Use district position descriptions to recruit, train, evaluate and sustain volunteer projects.

     • Find position descriptions in the Position Description Directory and adapt them to your school's needs.  

     • Create Position Descriptions as needed to your school's Volunteer Program Portfolio to use for recruiting, training, and sustaining the project.  

     • Examples of volunteer positions can be found in the Sample Volunteer Positions Tool.

Engaging volunteers in an intentional way is another component of a strongly Goal Aligned Volunteer Program. 

Key tools to support the effective recruitment and engagement of volunteers include: 

• Recruiting with intention to place volunteers in projects that support your school goals.  Customize the SAMPLE Volunteer Sign-Up Recruitment Tool to recruit volunteers at open house, family engagement, registration and other events based on where your school needs the most support.   

• Volunteer Position Descriptions that align with goals.

• Intentional and targeted recruitment of Volunteers based on what the school needs.

• Welcoming volunteers to complete a Volunteer Skills and Interest Form.

• Interviewing and matching Volunteers to the projects and positions where they can make the most impact.

• Designing and implementing Volunteer Agreements.

• Provide Orientation and Training to Volunteers and be sure to add site specific information.

• Build support for hosts and those who will manage volunteers.

Volunteers stop serving for various reasons. It's important to gather input at this time. Use the Volunteer Exit Survey to obtain valuable information and suggestions about their volunteering experience. 

Data-driven celebrations should be linked to school goals and focused on SMARTE goal/data indicators.  Consider WHAT and WHEN to celebrate.  Include the process, the impact and the contributions of staff and community.  

Celebrate:

• The individual Volunteer Projects' outcomes

• The Overall School Volunteer Program's outcomes

• Individual and Groups of Volunteers

• Staff who supported Volunteers

• Frequently like at the end of a project or when there is project highlight

• ALL year-round successes of projects, staff and Volunteers durin the annual Volunteer Program celebration  

Use the Celebration Planning Handout.

Recognizing and celebrating the contributions of volunteers is an important part of your role as a Volunteer Coordinator.  It is a key part of keeping your volunteers especially when you take the time to let volunteers know the impact they are making by connecting them to the school's goals. 

It is important to recognize every volunteer from the minute they come in the door and always treating them as important members of the team.  

Strategies to help you develop and implement a plan to continuously recognize volunteers: 

• Help volunteers and the entire school community understand their work and how it relates to school and project goal(s).

• Share your school goals with volunteers and let them know how their work impacts these goals and what success will look like.  

• Measure relevant data for each project and goal that volunteers are working on and use that data to celebrate success.

• Provide volunteers with specific expectations of their role and use their accomplishments to celebrate.  

• Celebrate small wins and big wins. 

• Make sure volunteers always have what they need to perform the work and someone to turn to if they need further assistance.

• Review the Volunteer Coordinator Training to help align Volunteer Programs to school and district goals.  

• Set up an individual coaching session to get additional support for your school from district staff by contacting family.engagement@aps.edu