Volunteers make an immeasurable difference in our Oakland schools. Their ongoing impact reaches students, teachers, the community—and the volunteers themselves.
Research shows that underfunded schools may benefit the most from a low-cost learning support system like a volunteer program. Unfortunately, many of these schools lack the resources for recruiting and managing volunteers.
This is why the Ed Fund created the Oakland School Volunteers (OSV) program, which links schools with volunteers. We recruit, screen, train, and match volunteer community members and businesses with opportunities to support students. All teachers or schools have to do is ask—and we take care of the rest.
Here are some of their stories in their own words.
Alecia Arenas, OUSD Director of Elementary Instruction, said of volunteers at Garfield Elementary: “Volunteers add positive energy to our school site. Teachers have great things to say about the support they receive and they really appreciate it.”
Volunteer tutors and mentors provide individualized attention that most teachers cannot provide. Research has shown that middle school students who receive tutoring have a greater interest in school, improve their test scores and perseverance, and demonstrate greater self-confidence.
One OUSD teacher said, “I had a volunteer earlier in the year who was wonderful! I credit his support with my ability to get six students caught up to grade level.”
Additionally, by interacting with adults from their community, students learn that others value and support education. Volunteers help students improve their school attendance and stay in school to successfully graduate and go on to college.
J’Mya Gray-Martinez, a previous TechLink student, said, “The best part of the mentor program was having a mentor who went to college and is now working at Intel to help me think about future college decisions, majors, and how important it is to pick the best college for me.”
Claire Daily, a past TechLink student participant, explained: “The most valuable part of my Intel mentorship has been getting advice from a woman who has been successful in the technology industry… I get to witness a real-life example rather than just hearing about the possibility for women to succeed in tech.”
Oakland School Volunteers also host city-wide volunteer projects like Back to School Beautification Week, Read-In Weeks that celebrate heritage and diversity, Computer Science Education Week, and more. We also invite local businesses to Adopt an Oakland School, which pairs the business with a school to support through volunteer projects for one year.
Shartresa Nixon, United for Success Middle School Reading Intervention/Literacy and AVID instructor, and OUSD Middle School Teacher of the Year 2022-2023 recently posted on LinkedIn about her positive experience with the Ed Fund’s Oakland School Volunteers program: “Thanks to the Oakland Public Education Fund for coming through and connecting us with volunteers that came to reach to our students about African American contributions and accomplishments!”
Serving as an Oakland School Volunteer not only helps our students, schools, and the community. Many studies have shown that volunteering also benefits volunteers with improved physical and mental health, a sense of purpose, and increased social interaction.
Jody, a community volunteer, said when she retired a couple of years ago, “I wanted to volunteer to work with children, and this is my dream come true.”
And Read-In volunteer Esperanza said, “Students were so engaged and loved having this experience. It was an amazing experience for me as well.”
Volunteering is most certainly a win-win for all of us! Connecting schools and volunteers is just one way the Ed Fund focuses on our mission to lead the development of community resources in Oakland public schools so that all students can learn, grow, and thrive.
If you haven’t volunteered in our schools yet, I’m inviting you to do so. You don’t have to have any special experience. Our Oakland School Volunteers specialists can match you with projects based on your interests. We have long-term commitments and one-time projects. Find more information here or email osv@oaklandedfund.org.
I can’t wait to see what we can do for our Oakland students—and our community—together!
– Ali Medina, Executive Director