COVID-19 UPDATE

We value and appreciate the many volunteers who contribute their time and effort to support our students and schools. 

In the interest of both volunteer and student health, we are suspending volunteer activities at schools until further notice.

We look forward to welcoming our volunteers back in the near future TBD.

Online volunteer application is not available at this time.

Call the community organization of your choice listed below in partnership with the School District (United Way & Big Brothers Big Sisters).

District Volunteer Coordinator

Deborah Perry-Gambino

gambinod@manateeschools.net

Soar in 4

The summer Soar in 4 program meets 10 times over the summer and offers a monthly program throughout the school year in downtown Bradenton from 5:00 - 7:30 pm to support literacy and family engagement. Pre K - third grade Title I families are invited to participate in interactive play engagements which are aligned with the school curriculum. Volunteers are needed to assist teacher facilitators with the STEAM activities. Contact Sheila Halpin at (941) 753-0958 ext. 2008 or visit www.soarin4.org.

Books For Kids - LWR Rotary 

A literacy, comprehension and mentoring school year long program, provided by the Rotary Club of Lakewood Ranch, supports students in first through third grades. Volunteers are needed to go to the school site 1 time a month for 1 hour to read to a classroom of students and then facilitate a book discussion. Contact Ted Lindenberg at (845) 304-5793 or visit https://flbooksforkids.org/.

United Way Reading PALS

A 30 week literacy and mentoring program provided by the United Way Suncoast for Pre K and Kindergarten students. Volunteers are needed to go to the school site 1 time a week for 1 hour or 2 times per week for 30 minutes. Each mentor reads to 2 students, develops an impactful relationship and supports social and emotion learning.

Kayla Shugart | Manager, Community Partnerships (941) 256-3073

https://unitedwaysuncoast.org/what-we-do/education/reading-pals/

United Way Learning PALS

Word recognition plays an important role in learning to read. The Learning Pals program, provided by United Way Suncoast, supports children in Kindergarten through 3rd grade at Title 1 schools. This initiative supports children who are struggling with sight word recognition, reading fluency and comprehension. Each child receives individualized attention based on their unique needs. Volunteers are needed to go to the school site 1 time a week for 1 hour to review sight words with individual students. Contact Jessica Maxon-Berrier at (941) 932-8259 or visit https://unitedwaysuncoast.org/what-we-do/education/learning-pals/.

Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Suncoast

Contact Karen Gray at (941) 746-7000 kgray@bbbssun.org

Chaperones attending "daytime" field trips must be cleared via a Level I screening via the Raptor System at the school site.

Chaperones attending "overnight" field trips must be cleared via a Level II screening via an outside vendor "FieldPrint" at the expense of the volunteer. Ask your school volunteer coordinator for further details.

The School District of Manatee County uses Raptor Technologies to perform Level I screenings at all sites via the Dru Sjodin National Sexual Offender Public Website. Volunteers who clear this Level I screening are approved to volunteer in a supervised setting with students.  

Level II criminal background screenings are mandatory and required for all tutors, mentors and overnight chaperones, who work individually, and unsupervised with students. Payment is the responsibility of the volunteer and the fingerprint screening is performed by an approved outside vendor "FieldPrint".

Information on a Level II screening can be obtained from the front office at the school site.

Florida Statute 943.04351  "Search of registration information regarding sexual predators and sexual offenders is required before appointment or employment.

A state agency or governmental subdivision, before making any decision to appoint or employ a person to work, whether for compensation or as a volunteer, at any park, playground, day care center, or other place where children regularly congregate, must conduct a search of that person’s name or other identifying information against the registration information regarding sexual predators and sexual offenders through the Dru Sjodin National Sexual Offender Public Website maintained by the United States Department of Justice.  

If for any reason that site is not available, a search of the registration information regarding sexual predators and sexual offenders maintained by the Department of Law Enforcement under s.943.043 shall be performed.

This section does not apply to those positions or appointments within a state agency or governmental subdivision for which a state and national criminal history background check is conducted."  

https://offender.fdle.state.fl.us/offender/sops/home.jsf