Volunteer Job Descriptions:
All volunteers must complete a registration form before volunteering. Volunteers have specific duties assigned to them and work under the supervision of school staff. Below is a listing of volunteer opportunities at schools and administration centers in Pinellas County. School volunteer placements that best use your skills can be discussed with the liaison responsible for the volunteer program.

Instructional Volunteers
Instructional volunteers provide direct services to five or fewer students on a regular basis. Typically, tutors and mentors are in this category.

TUTOR
A tutor may work one-on-one with a student or with small groups of students who need to reinforce basic skills in an academic subject. Placements are made with students from prekindergarten through high school with students in vocational/career/technical schools.

MENTOR
>Mentors typically work one-on-one with a student or in a small group setting. Mentors serve as role models. It is important to be a good listener, and motivate the student to stay focused on school through goal-setting. Volunteers can provide encouragement and friendship to a student needing to build self-esteem. All mentors are required to attend a free, two-hour mentor workshop and have a complete background check done before mentoring. This is provided by Pinellas County Schools.

Support Service Volunteers
Support service volunteers provide assistance, such as classroom assistants, office/clerical helpers, field trip drivers, including attendance at PTA/PTSA, boosters and SAC school meetings.

CLASSROOM ASSISTANCE
Volunteers work closely with classroom teachers and staff, assisting in various projects, keeping records, preparing instructional materials and interacting with students. Duties in elementary schools may include telling stories, reading with children and preparing bulletin boards. Duties in Middle and High schools and adult education centers may include working on special projects, operating audiovisual equipment, performing clerical duties, making instructional materials, reviewing homework and assisting with testing.

OFFICE/CLERICAL ASSISTANT
Clerical assistants help staff members at a school, administrative center or adult/community education center. Duties may include typing, computer entry, copying, bookkeeping, record keeping, telephone and switchboard operator, as well as other office work.

MEDIA CENTER/LIBRARY ASSISTANT
Volunteers in the school library/media center help fill teacher and student requests for services. They may also work at the circulation desk, catalogue and shelve books, use a computer, mend books and operate audiovisual equipment.

FIELD TRIP DRIVERS/CHAPERONES
Field trip drivers/Chaperones must be registered and have an approved background check completed before volunteering. Once approved, volunteers have the opportunity to enjoy museums, exhibits, musicals and plays as they accompany students and teachers on field trips. Trips may involve free transportation on a bus and occasional free admission tickets.

CLINIC ASSISTANT
Clinic assistants work in the clinic during school hours to assist with basic first aid.

COMPUTER HELPERS
Computer helpers share their computer skills and knowledge of various models of computers and software. Volunteers assist students and/or school staff in classrooms or administrative offices.

OUTSIDE SUPPORT ORGANIZATIONS
Volunteers lend a hand to support school extracurricular clubs, groups and events. Areas of involvement for these volunteers include participation in organizations such as PTA/PTSA and booster clubs; serving as volunteer coaches; and assisting with sports, music or drama programs.

SCHOOL ADVISORY COUNCIL MEMBERS (SAC)
Schools elect members of the SAC to represent a broad cross section of the school’s student population and the area in which the school is located. Community members are often invited to become members of a school council. The SAC functions as a resource to the principal as members work as a team to accomplish school improvement goals.

OFF-SITE VOLUNTEERING
All volunteer activities take place on the school grounds during school hours under general supervision of school personnel. Exceptions can include chaperoned field trips, school sponsored athletic activities, extracurricular events (under the supervision of school personnel) and “at-home” volunteers projects such as creating newsletters, phone recruiting of other volunteers or helping classroom teachers. Those who do clerical volunteer work at home or work out of the school with a club activity should be registered and keep a written record of their hours of service.

COMMUNITY AND BUSINESS PARTNERSHIP PROGRAMS
Partners match community resources to identified needs of the school district or individual schools. Schools, in turn, provide resources to meet identified needs of a particular partner such as a business or community group. Partners often contribute more than money to the program—they donate time and expertise, send tutors and mentors to volunteer in the classroom, speak to classes about their business or organization and invite students on field trips.

• PCS Volunteer Program
• PCS Volunteer Registration Form