Many schools simply cannot operate without volunteers. Traditional volunteer tasks, such as PTO or chaperoning field trips, are valuable. But there are plenty of other tasks that a volunteer might be able to accomplish that you wouldn’t normally think about.
IT support
Many people have advanced technical skills. As more devices enter your school, troubleshooting problems can strain your IT staff. If you have a volunteer who feels comfortable helping the IT staff and students with their technical needs, ask whether they would be willing to help with that detail.
Gardening
If there are some beautification needs around campus, perhaps a group of parents (and maybe students) would be interested in getting the work done. If there aren’t any pressing needs, consider starting a sustainable community garden.
Reading… to older kids
Reading to elementary students is a popular volunteer task, but do you want to know a secret? Older students love to be read to! The world is incredibly stressful for today’s teenagers. Having the opportunity to just relax and follow a story is a rare opportunity for them to unplug.
Lobbying
Some parents are well-connected within town and beyond. These people will probably take it upon themselves to advocate for their child’s school, but they may not know the most important needs. Give them a specific issue you would like help with, and ask how they can help. Even if you don’t have any parents that run in those circles, an email campaign can make a lot of difference.
Form an after-school club
Many parents have hobbies and might invite their own child to participate. But what if they could share their skills and knowledge with more students? Musical instruments, fishing, chess, robotics… There are plenty of things that students would love to learn about if given the opportunity.
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