volunteer

Your EnCorps Career Pathway: Volunteering and Observing

While EnCorps does not specifically support volunteers, we encourage anyone considering becoming a teacher to begin as a volunteer in the classroom.

Volunteering in the Classroom

Volunteering in a local school requires no state certification tests, licenses or other documentation outside of the Volunteer requirements of your local school districts.  The specific requirements differ from school to school so check with them first.  

EnCorps Pioneers are volunteering with school systems by doing things such as:

-    Teaching small groups of students after school
-    Setting up and maintaining computer lab systems and networks
-    Acting as a support to handle exceptional children under direction of the classroom teacher.
        - For example, leading reading groups and providing individual tutoring
-    Acting as judges at Math and Science Fairs and other school events

For more information on how to get the most out of your volunteer experience, click HERE.

Why would I consider being a Volunteer if I want to teach Full Time?

EnCorps strongly recommends that all Teacher Candidates begin volunteering in a local low income school before active teaching.  You can jump start your experiences with students while you work to obtain your Substitute or full time Teaching credentials.  Reports from the field indicate that there are 3 reasons why:

➢    Find your favorite schools
➢    Build your teacher contact lists in your teaching subjects
➢    Have Principals and Department Heads get to know who you are
➢    Discover more about the student learning process

The teachers who are getting hired for Full Time positions have most often made contacts directly with peer teachers, Principals and Department Heads through their work.  These latter two groups are key decision makers when a teaching position becomes available. Once you are qualified to be a strong math or science teachers, there is nothing that will be as helpful to finding a position as building relationships at the schools in which you would like to work.