Seattle Public Schools Volunteer Opportunities

Mercer Middle School: First Lego League Robotics Mentor Volunteer

Region: SE
School: Asa Mercer
Volunteer Role: First Lego League Robotics Mentor Volunteer
Grade(s) you will be supporting: 6-8
Subjects/academic areas: STEM, robotics
Minimum age of the volunteer: 21
Scheduling: Tuesdays & Thursdays, 3:45-5:30pm
Volunteer role details:
We will have up to 24 students in an afterschool program working on building and programming a robot and completing an innovation research project. You will help with a small group within the room on a specific goal of the day. 10 of the students will go to a competition in December and you are invited to join.
From First Lego League: Friendly competition is at the heart of FIRST® LEGO® League Challenge, as teams of children engage in research, problem-solving, coding, and engineering as they build and code a LEGO® robot that navigates the missions of the robot game. Teams also participate in an innovation project to identify and propose a solution to a relevant real-world problem. During UNEARTHED, teams are challenged to identify and research a problem faced by archaeologists and propose a solution.
Skills needed:
Any of the following: Experience building with LEGO®, experience coding LEGO® EV3 or Spike Prime bots, experience with block coding, experience or interest in archaeology, experience creating presentations of research.
About this school community:
We are incredibly diverse school with languages such as Spanish, Mandarin, Cantonese, Vietnamese, Tagalog, and Somali heard throughout the halls and classes. We are a Title 1 school with high expectations that leads to high student achievement.
The impact your volunteer support will make:
Connect students to the broader community while learning about robotics and researching an innovation project.
Number of volunteers needed: 1-2
Volunteer Supervisor Title: Teacher – Science & CTE
Additional info:

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Chief Sealth High School – Volunteer Science Tutor

Region: SW
School: Chief Sealth
Volunteer Role: volunteer science tutor
Grade(s) you will be supporting: 10-11
Subjects/academic areas: biology, IB biology
Minimum age of the volunteer: 18
Scheduling: MTuThF 9:50-3:40 (lunch 12:45-1:20).
Volunteer role details: This person should work on building relationships with all of the students so they feel comfortable asking help from this person. And then this person should continuously check the progress of students (walking around checking students work) and work with students who seem lost or are falling behind on the tasks at hand.
Skills needed: Responsible, friendly, helpful, good role model (can show how to ask question, how to take notes, etc)
About this school community: Chief Sealth is working towards our school motto of Seahawk PRIDE = Passionate, Relationship-driven, Inspired, Dedicated, Engaged. We are also expecting kids to keep their phones “away for the day” in a non-punitive way. This has opened up the doors to student engagement, which is bringing back the challenges of yore (pre-covid). They need more hand-holding!
The impact your volunteer support will make: Hopefully a positive one if this person is a reliable source of help to the students.
Number of volunteers needed: 1-3
Volunteer Supervisor Title: Science Teacher
Additional info:

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Chief Sealth High School – Japanese Classroom Volunteer

Region: SW
School: Chief Sealth
Volunteer Role: Japanese Classroom Volunteer
Grade(s) you will be supporting: 9-12
Subjects/academic areas: Japanese
Minimum age of the volunteer: 18
Scheduling: Monday Tuesday Thursday Friday
Volunteer role details: Just being a mature role model for students – helping students stay focused and answering basic questions regarding study skills or logical processes.
Skills needed: College-level study skills and willingness to engage with students to help them focus and study.
About this school community: Sealth is a school with a lot of socio-economic and ethnic diversity. We offer opportunities for study in the International Baccalaureate program to all students.
The impact your volunteer support will make: The presence of another studious adult in my classroom will raise the level of focus and study and also offer students a positive role model closer to their age range.
Number of volunteers needed: 1-2
Volunteer Supervisor Title: Japanese Teacher
Additional info:

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Meany Middle School – Volunteer Math Tutor

Region: Central
School: Meany
Volunteer Role: Volunteer Math Tutor
Grade(s) you will be supporting: 6th, 7th, 8th
Subjects/academic areas: Math
Minimum age of the volunteer: 18
Scheduling: Lunch & classroom tutoring: 11 through 1 or 1 -3pm except Wednesdays because school ends at 2:30 on Wed.
Volunteer role details: Lunch tutoring in Rm 66 between 1115 and 1245 except Weds when the lunch tutoring would be from 1036 to 1157. Classroom/push in math tutoring from 1 to 3.
Skills needed: Math for grades 6.7.8 and Algebra 1.
About this school community: Meany is a very diverse school with a population of students that go from highly capable to high needs and ELL students.
The impact your volunteer support will make: Raise student interest and competence in Math.
Number of volunteers needed: 6
Volunteer Supervisor Title: Assistant Principal
Additional info:

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Emerson Elementary – Academic tutor supporting Tier 1 instruction

Region: SE
School: Emerson
Volunteer Role: Academic tutor supporting Tier 1 instruction
Grade(s) you will be supporting: K-5
Subjects/academic areas: reading, writing, science
Minimum age of the volunteer: 18
Scheduling: 9-1pm are times that would be beneficial.
Volunteer role details: Shifts would be an time in the classroom and then transition to recess supervision to engage in play with students. Classroom teacher would provide materials for in the classroom.
Skills needed: ablity to connect with students, able to multi-task and be semi-independent.
About this school community: Our school community is a welcoming, diverse school. We welcome a wide variety of needs and including languages, ability, race. We are a neighborhood school that is very community orientated.
The impact your volunteer support will make: The impact of a potential volunteer would be to help develop the social/emotional and academic needs of our students.
Number of volunteers needed: 2 volunteers
Volunteer Supervisor Title: AP
Additional info:

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Emerson Elementary – Recess coach-teaching students games

Region: SE
School: Emerson Elementary
Volunteer Role: Recess coach-teaching students games
Grade(s) you will be supporting: K-5
Subjects/academic areas: Recess coach-teaching students recess games and or supervising play builds cooperative and problem-solving which builds cooperative and problem solving skills.
Minimum age of the volunteer:
Scheduling: 9-1pm are times that would be beneficial.
Volunteer role details: Shifts would be an time in the classroom and then transition to recess supervision to engage in play with students. Classroom teacher would provide materials for in the classroom.
Skills needed: ability to connect with students, able to multi-task and be semi-independent.
About this school community: Our school community is a welcoming, diverse school. We welcome a wide variety of needs and including languages, ability, race. We are a neighborhood school that is very community orientated.
The impact your volunteer support will make: The impact of a potential volunteer would be to help develop the social/emotional and academic needs of our students.
Number of volunteers needed: 2 volunteers
Volunteer Supervisor Title: AP
Additional info:

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Interagency – Math Tutor

Region: SE
School: Interagency
Volunteer Role: Math Tutor, Ms. Marilyn Filley’s Room
Grade(s) you will be supporting: 9-12
Subjects/academic areas: math (geometry, algebra)
Minimum age of the volunteer: 18 (22 preferred)
Scheduling: We are requesting afternoon support (12:40-3:05pm) Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays, or Fridays – Not Wednesdays, Tuesdays and Thursdays have the best attendance.
Volunteer role details: Opportunities at Interagency provide valuable experience for those interested in careers in K-12 public education – particularly those interested in serving Multilingual Learners (MLL), Special Education, and/or working in alternative learning environments. Many Interagency students have traumatic relationships with their public education. For the first several weeks of your tutoring experience, you should expect to provide very little 1:1 tutoring. Instead, your role will include relationship-building with students to establish trust and demonstrate consistency.
Students will begin to approach tutors for support on their own when they feel safe enough to do so. Alternatively, the teacher may give students the option of waiting patiently until the teacher is available to provide 1:1 support, or get assistance faster by working with the tutor.
Skills needed: The tutor should have experience working with BIPOC students furthest from educational justice. Experience working with students who struggle with emotional regulation skills is preferred. The tutor should possess basic de-escalation skills. This tutor should have a firm understanding of math concepts visual reasoning, spatial logic, and deductive proofs for geometry, along with understanding shapes, lines, areas, and volumes. Algebra skills involve manipulating symbolic expressions, working with linear and quadratic equations, and applying these concepts to solve problems, often integrating algebraic equations with geometric foundations.
About this school community
The things that make Interagency Academy different are:

1. Our shared values and beliefs about kids:
   We Believe In…
2. Anti-racist education in every classroom.
3. Honoring the indigenous lands our campuses occupy.
4. The values of knowing every student well culturally, academically, socially, and emotionally.
5. Value of being present.
6. Everyone matters and should be treated with kindness.
7. Restorative justice to repair harm.
8. Celebrating success.
9. Meeting every student where they are and supporting them as they grow.
10. Protecting our LGBTQ+ students and staff.
11. Create an environment that is physically, emotionally, and spiritually safe for everyone.
12. Value of team.
13. Centering the voices of Black and Brown students and staff.
14. Joy should be experienced every day.

78% of racial demographic are non-white, 40% have IEPs, 15% are homeless, 63% qualify for Free or Reduced lunch.

Number of volunteers needed: 2 during each shift max
Volunteer Supervisor Title: Math Teacher and School Social Worker
Additional Notes:

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Interagency – Language Arts Tutor

Region: SE
School: Interagency
Volunteer Role: Language Arts Tutor, Mr. Herbison’s Room
Grade(s) you will be supporting: 9-12
Subjects/academic areas: Language Arts
Minimum age of the volunteer: 18 (22 preferred)
Scheduling: We are requesting afternoon support, 12:40-3:05pm
Any day Monday, Tuesday, Thursday or Friday would be helpful. Wednesdays are not a good option, as our students get out of school at noon on Wednesdays. Tuesdays and Thursdays have the strongest attendance
Volunteer role details: Opportunities at Interagency provide valuable experience for those interested in careers in K-12 public education – particularly those interested in serving Multilingual Learners (MLL), Special Education, and/or working in alternative learning environments.
Many Interagency students have traumatic relationships with their public education. For the first several weeks of your tutoring experience, you should expect to provide very little 1:1 tutoring. Instead, your role will include relationship-building with students to establish trust and demonstrate consistency.
Students will begin to approach tutors for support on their own when they feel safe enough to do so. Alternatively, the teacher may give students the option of waiting patiently until the teacher is available to provide 1:1 support, or get assistance faster by working with the tutor.
Skills needed: The tutor should have experience working with BIPOC students furthest from educational justice. Experience working with students who struggle with emotional regulation skills is preferred. The tutor should possess basic de-escalation skills. This tutor should have a firm understanding of English Language Arts concepts such as reading, writing, analyzing texts, critical thinking, producing coherent multi-draft writing (essays, research, creative pieces), and language mechanics like rhetoric, grammar and vocabulary
About this school community:
The things that make Interagency Academy different are:

1. Our shared values and beliefs about kids: We Believe In…
2. Anti-racist education in every classroom.
3. Honoring the indigenous lands our campuses occupy.
4. The values of knowing every student well culturally, academically, socially, and emotionally.
5. Value of being present.
6. Everyone matters and should be treated with kindness.
7. Restorative justice to repair harm.
8. Celebrating success.
9. Meeting every student where they are and supporting them as they grow.
10. Protecting our LGBTQ+ students and staff.
11. Create an environment that is physically, emotionally, and spiritually safe for everyone.
12. Value of team.
13. Centering the voices of Black and Brown students and staff.
14. Joy should be experienced every day.

The impact your volunteer support will make: Because we are an ALE school, we do not have the same Instructional Assistant support as comprehensive high schools. Due to our population’s struggles with attendance, every student enters our program from a different foundation, and each student is progressing at a slightly different pace. Having classroom tutors will allow Interagency to give more students the 1:1 attention they need to master grade-level English Language Arts content at their own pace.
Number of volunteers needed: 2 during each shift max
Volunteer Supervisor Title: English Language Arts Teacher and School Social Worker
Additional info:

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Nathan Hale – In-class Volunteer Tutor

Region: North
School: Nathan Hale
Volunteer Role: In-class Volunteer Tutor
Grade(s) you will be supporting: 9th-10th
Subjects/academic areas: Math: Primarily Algebra 1, various other subjects in addition as needed
Minimum age of the volunteer:
Scheduling: Mon, Tues, Thurs, Fri: 10:40am – 3:40 pm (lunch break is 12:20-12:50) ; highest priority is 12:50pm – 3:40pm, Wednesdays: 10am – 2:25pm
Volunteer role details: Volunteers will mainly be assisting math students in Algebra 1 and Geometry classes, assisting students one-on-one and in small groups. Making sure that students are keeping up with the lesson and receiving extra help with the material. We have one classroom that volunteers will mainly be in, but may be called out to assist other classes as needed.
Skills needed: Patience, and willingness/experience working with students from diverse backgrounds. Spanish speaker is a huge bonus!
About this school community: Nathan Hale is proud of its strong student support team, and would love to host you as a volunteer! Volunteers will be working closely with their host classroom teacher, connecting with students disengaged or frustrated with the work, but also with many support staff who work alongside or in conjunction with them. By working with us, you will be able to get a taste of many different roles in a school!
The impact your volunteer support will make: We hope the volunteers will be able to re-engage our students and restore their confidence in the subject(s), especially since many of the students volunteers will be supporting are furthest from educational justice. Many of our students are dealing with challenging life circumstances, and we want school not to add to their stressors, but become a place they can grow and thrive. We are happy to have you speak with them not only about the material, but also your experience as a university student, and help them strive towards a future ambition.
Number of volunteers needed: 5
Volunteer Supervisor Title: Behavioral Health Coordinator
Additional info:

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Rainier Beach – Science Tutor Volunteer

Region: SE
School: Rainier Beach
Volunteer Role: Science Tutor Volunteer
Grade(s) you will be supporting: 9-12
Subjects/academic areas: Science (Biology, Environmental Science)
Minimum age of the volunteer: 18
Scheduling: M, Tu, Th, F: 9:40am-1:22pm, W: 9:20am-1:50pm
Volunteer role details: Volunteers would be a science classroom, supporting students with completing daily work, or supporting them getting caught up. Many assignments have answer keys. There is some lab work that students would need support with.
Skills needed: Comfort with high school science, willingness to work with students, patience, kindness
About this school community: Students are diverse and supportive of one another. There are a wide range of languages spoken in the school, and a wide level of interest in science/confidence in science. Community truly feels like a family supporting each other.
The impact your volunteer support will make: Having a tutor in the science classroom helps elevate every students experience, getting more support or more opportunities for increased interaction with an adult and the science materials. Students routinely do better on tests and quizzes when there is another adult supporting them and rooting for them.
Number of volunteers needed:
Volunteer Supervisor Title: Science Teacher
Additional info:

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Rainier Beach – Science Tutor

Region: SE
School: Rainier Beach
Volunteer Role: Science tutor
Grade(s) you will be supporting: 9th & 10th
Subjects/academic areas: Biology
Minimum age of the volunteer: 18
Scheduling: Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday 1:40-3:40pm or 3pm-5pm (for support in my last class while also giving afterschool support).
Volunteer role details: Provide students with individualized attention, read instructions and text to students, confirm correct answers, listen to the day’s lesson and give students support, etc.
Skills needed: Exp working with BIPOC students and students with diverse backgrounds.
About this school community: RBHS is the most ethnically diverse school in Seattle. The greatest challenge in the school is meeting the wide range of needs; where you will see some students reading at a college level while others at a 3rd grade level in the same classroom. A third of the student population are ML students, which adds to the challenge.
The impact your volunteer support will make: In addition to receiving science credit, my hope is that students see the value of education in their lives as a way to achieve upward socioeconomic prosperity while improving their communities.
Number of volunteers needed: 1
Volunteer Supervisor Title: Science Teacher
Additional info: The times can also be shifted back one hour if the tutor can provide afterschool homework help.

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Rainier Beach – IB Sports Medicine volunteer

Region: SE
School: Rainier Beach
Volunteer Role: IB Sports Medicine volunteer
Grade(s) you will be supporting: 11th and 12th
Subjects/academic areas: science–Sports Med is a mix of anatomy, biomechanics, and psychology
Minimum age of the volunteer:
Scheduling: Any times M, T, Th, F from 9:45-3:40 (with a long lunch break from 12:30-1:45)
Any times Wed from 9:25 to 2:25 (with a long lunch break from 11:30-12:30
Volunteer role details: They will help students get settled at the beginning of class (reminding of notebooks and stamping warm-ups). They will listen to the introduction so they understand the topic. They will either move around the room and help students as questions come up, or they can choose to sit with a small group of the same students and work through all the questions. They will repeat with the next class.
Skills needed: Good communication.
Willingness to model learning (reading, re-reading if confused, explaining thinking, asking questions). Assuming best intent (not jumping to conclusions about a student’s behavior).

About this school community: Mostly BIPOC students, >25% are multilingual, IB for all (meaning we challenge all kids to try advanced courses, rather than tracking them based on behavior). Students are so talented and funny, but they often lack basic academic skills we take for granted. They think critically, but struggle with reading and writing.
The impact your volunteer support will make: More students will get more help and be confused for less time. Students want so badly to do well and to understand the work, but they have to wait for me a long time when they raise their hand. Many don’t ask for help and just sit in confusion.
Number of volunteers needed: Probably one 2 per class, so if they come at the same time, just 2. If they stagger, then 4.
Volunteer Supervisor Title: Science teacher (IB Sports Medicine)
Additional info:

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Rainier Beach – Math Tutor

Region: SE
School: Rainier Beach
Volunteer Role: Math Tutor
Grade(s) you will be supporting: 9 through 12
Subjects/academic areas: Grades 9/10 – Algebra 1 and Grades 10 to 12 – PreCalculus
Minimum age of the volunteer: 18
Scheduling: Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday Classes are 50 minutes from 8:50 to 3:40 (specifically 8:50 to 9:40 am; 10:45 to 12:30 – 2 classes; then lunch; then 1:57 to 3:40)
Wednesday classes are 30 minutes from 8:50 to 2:25 in the same order
It would be wonderful to have someone in any class doing problems with students, answering questions, helping them feel comfortable and heard. Much of the work is basic, and you can relearn the material along with the students.
Volunteer role details: Work in small groups with students as they work through math problems, help students who were absent catch up on old work, help students prepare for tests, retests, etc. I like to get everyone up at the boards at once sometimes so that they are all actively working. It helps then to have another person to check in with groups or to stick with a group that is struggling.
Skills needed: The ability to learn high school math (basic or more advanced, you can choose and you can just help students figure out what to do); interpersonal skills to help students walk through math problems calmly (the students are really nice but can be scared of math).
About this school community: The students are all really nice! The 2 classes are at opposite ends – with Algebra students often needing help with basic skills as they learn new material and PreCalculus students working on upping their level for college. Rainier Beach HS has a family feel. The building is brand new. The other math teachers are so supportive.
The impact your volunteer support will make: Having a volunteer in the classroom can really make more students feel seen and heard since there is someone else to either answer questions or free up the teacher to help certain students more. Plus, you will find interacting with high school students is uplifting. These students are dreaming about their next steps, trying to decide what their futures will be. Come listen to them and encourage them.
Number of volunteers needed: I would like 2 volunteers max.
Volunteer Supervisor Title: Teacher – High School Math
Additional info: The funding for extra intervention programs has dried up this year. We need community members to fill that gap, including volunteers. Thank You!!!

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Rising Star – Reading and Math Volunteer

Region: SE
School: Rising Star
Volunteer Role: Reading and Math Volunteer
Grade(s) you will be supporting: K-5
Subjects/academic areas: Math, Reading & Science/Writing
Minimum age of the volunteer: 18
Scheduling:
– Volunteer will schedule consistent weekly shifts with their supervisor during regular school hours.
– Current School Hours: 8:00 a.m. – 2:30 p.m. Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday; Early Release Wednesday: 8:00 a.m. – 1:10 p.m.
– Occasional evening and weekend hours based on programs, events, and training. Schedules are based upon workload, class schedule, and academic responsibilities.

Volunteer role details:
– support students in reading and writing – tutor students 1:1 and/or in small groups,
– support student attendance by building positive relationships and creating safe and welcoming environment for remote and in-person students,
– participate in required meetings with supervisor, school staff, families.

Skills needed:
– Academically confident in Language Arts and Math.
– Experienced working with children or youth.
– Willingness to see, support, and build on student strengths – patience and compassion for students as they develop skills and improve their performance.
– Commitment to educational justice.
– Ability to work as part of a team and communicate effectively with students, teachers, and school support staff.
– Flexibility and eagerness to work in a dynamic school environment. Ability to adjust as the COVID epidemic continues to affect school operations.
– Effective work habits: punctuality, integrity.
– Second language a plus.
About this school community:

At Seattle Public Schools, we celebrate diversity, nurture cultural and ethnic pride in our students, and honor home languages. Rising Star Elementary is a neighborhood school with a rich and diverse population of students:

– 30% of our students identify as Black, 34% as Asian/Pacific Islander, and 16% as Latino/a.

– 50% of students are English Language Learners.

Intern’s efforts will directly support Students of Color Furthest from Educational Justice:

– increased attendance among African American boys indicating effectiveness of a safe and welcoming environment, routines, and practices.
The impact your volunteer support will make:
At Seattle Public Schools (SPS), the largest K-12 school system in Washington state, we are working to dramatically improve academic and life outcomes for Students of Color by disrupting the legacies of racism in our educational system. To ensure that every student graduate prepared for college, a career, and community participation, we use the “targeted universalism” framework where targeted and differentiated efforts are required to meet the needs of specific student populations. Our five-year strategic plan is focused on African American boys and teens meeting academic goals, which will result in greater academic success for all our students. Learn more here.
Number of volunteers needed: 10
Volunteer Supervisor Title: Academic Interventionist
Additional info:

increased number of African American boys in 3rd grade meeting standard or higher on the ELA Smarter Balanced Assessment,