Volunteering: Help Give Middle Schoolers Skills With Citizen Schools

As you make those New Year's resolutions, you may wonder how to get more involved in the Austin community for 2007. January is National Mentoring Month, and one way to mentor here in Austin is through a volunteer teaching position at Citizen Schools. The Boston-based nonprofit arrived in Austin last year, and helps children in lower-income middle schools to prepare for the rigors of high school and college. They've already won 2006 and 2007 Fast Company "Social Capitalist" awards for their community involvement, and you can help bring this great service to our local students as a Citizen Teacher.

Citizen Schools is recruiting for 12 Citizen Teacher positions for the Spring semester, which begins on February 13th. No prior teaching experience is necessary, just an aptitude for and interest in your chosen subject. The time commitment is 90 minutes per week for an 11-week semester. Volunteers are needed for any of the following areas:

Business, Crafts, Sewing/Knitting, Culinary Arts/Cooking, Fine Arts, Foreign Languages, History, Technology (Animation, Web Design), Journalism, Sports (Yoga or Self Defense), Music, Theatre/Dance, Science & Mechanics, Woodworking (Toys or Furniture), Playground Design, Urban Design, Written Word (Debate, Screenwriting, Poetry Slams)

To volunteer, call Emily Schneider-Krzys at 512-414-3806 or simply send them an email. Past volunteers have included Austin-based playwright Pat Hazell and members of the Yellow Bike Project.

If you don't have time to donate, but do have cash, the Citizen Schools Austin campus also has donation opportunities for science and journalism supplies posted on Donors Choose, a site that allows teachers to request items they need for underfunded classrooms. With community support, this new and innovative program will help nurture and cultivate the talents of Austin's public school students.

Image via Bedichek Middle School/AISD.

Contact the author of this article or email tips@austinist.com with further questions, comments or tips.

By Tom Thornton in News, Other on January 10, 2007 12:46 PM 0 Comments

Comments [rss]

Monica Duplessie

In a world where so many people are looking for meaningful volunteer opportunities---not just stuffing letters or donating money---Citizen Schools is offering something special and powerful. Great experience for the kids---and the volunteers.

Monica Duplessie

In a world where so many people are looking for meaningful volunteer opportunities---not just stuffing letters or donating money---Citizen Schools is offering something special and powerful. Great experience for the kids---and the volunteers.

Cara Bowman

I taught a dance apprenticeship for Citizen Schools last spring and it was one of the best experiences I've ever had! Watching the kids grow throughout the ten week semester was an amazing opportunity.

Simeon G.

Citizen Schools creates such a fun environment for kids to learn and make new friends. And it's a great place for community members to get involved in the lives of young people in our area!

Jane Choi

Citizen Schools provides a truly unique opportunity for young people to engage and learn from passionate community members committed to empowering youth to achieve BIG dreams. A big SHOUT-OUT to the Austin community for the opportunity to make a positive difference in the lives of middle schoolers and adult volunteers. If you are interested in sharing your passion, join the Bedichek team in the mission of educating youth and strengthening communities!

Matty G.

I've seen first hand the desire from parents and students for after school programming of this kind.

Please take the time to check out the work these amazing people are doing in Austin. I have a good feeling it will inspire you to help out in any way you can.

Jim M

Citizen Schools has made a huge impact on students in New Jersey and in other states across the country. It would be great to see the program embraced throughout Texas!

Kate Mehr

WOW. This is a great opportunity. Thanks Citizen Schools for giving us a chance to get into the schools and work with kids. Great stuff!

Max Fripp

Citizen Schools provides volunteers a high impact experience that not only impacts our students, but also our volunteers. And our Bedicheck campus is leading the way in Austin.

Get involved in educating kids and strengthening your community!

Nancy Drew

I am so pleased to see such a fine article about Citizen Schools at Bedichek! I am a teaching assistant for Citizen Schools, and as a former educator in public schools, I realize the urgent need for quality after-school programs. Citizen Schools is the answer! In only one semester, the confidence and skills of our students has grown tremendously. It is amazing to see how far we have come, and I believe that the sky's the limit! I would like to add my voice in support and urge Austinites to add their support in order to really make a noticable and positive impact on students' lives.

Nancy Drew