Volunteers in Public Schools
The Volunteers in Public Schools program operates out of the Learning Enrichment and Student Services office and is dedicated to providing volunteers to meet the needs of the teachers, students, and community members in the district. Volunteers fill requests that have been received from parents and teachers for tutors and/or classroom aides for State College area students in grades K-12. Volunteers are needed to tutor math, science, social studies, English, foreign languages (French, German, Latin, and Spanish), English as a Second Language, and elementary studies. Traditionally, VIPS has relied heavily on the volunteer efforts of Penn State students from the College of Education, the Schreyer Honors College, and the Eberly College of Science, just to name a few. The program is coordinated by Catherine Lehman.
We have several options for participants: you can work with students and/or teachers during the day in a classroom setting or you can help out at one of our after-school elementary, middle school, or high school tutoring centers. We also need volunteers for Park Forest Middle School's Science Olympiad and to assist with recreational activities for preschool and elementary children at our evening parenting programs. Our main tutoring center at the High School North, which offers tutoring assistance to SCASD students in grades K-12, is our most popular site as it is only a 10-minute trip via the "R" bus from downtown State College; for those volunteers without their own means of transportation, free bus tokens are available if you choose to work at this location. The typical time investment is from 1-2 hours a week and all of our assignments are ongoing.
For more information on either requesting a tutor or classroom aide or in signing up to volunteer, contact Catherine Lehman at cdt13@scasd.org or call 814-235-4915.
Application forms as well as forms for requesting tutoring assistance or a classroom volunteer follow.
Volunteers in Public Schools Forms
Volunteer Opportunities
We are currently in need of tutors and classroom aides in the following subject areas:
- math (basic, algebra I and II, geometry, precalculus, calculus, trigonometry)*
- science (general, earth science, biology, chemistry, physics)
- history and social studies
- foreign languages (French, German, Latin, Spanish)
- English
- English as a Second Language**
- elementary studies
* Math tutors are especially in demand this semester!!!!
** We are experiencing an increased need for ESL tutors. Anyone interested in working with foreign students to help them improve their English speaking, reading comprehension, and writing skills, please note this on your application. For PSU education and HDFS majors, this is great way to earn your diversity hours!!!
