VIP - Volunteer In Person

Volunteers who are committed to helping students be successful are important members of the school team. These individuals are essential to bringing the outside world to the school. Students benefit from contact with individuals who can share experiences, create connections and assist them through the learning process.

VIP Goals:

• Enrich the curriculum
• Enrich student’s learning opportunities
• Provide help for individual students
• Provide opportunities for meaningful service
• Assist teachers and staff
• Establish a school and community partnership for quality education
• Enhance all aspects of the educational process

Working closely with the classroom teacher and school staff includes:

• Following the direction of a school staff member
• Accepting direction and suggestions from teachers
• Respecting the privacy of teachers and students by not discussing school matters away from the classroom
• Understanding that evaluation of a student’s learning can only be done by school personnel.
• Committing to working in a classroom to support and improve education for all students
• Seeking help from the teacher when you need additional information or instruction
• Sharing ideas and constructive comments with the teacher
• Acknowledging that school personnel are responsible for student discipline
• Referring to the classroom teacher or appropriate school staff member for final solution of any student problem which arises, whether of an instructional, medical or operational nature

Enjoy working with students by:

• Finding ways to establish a good rapport with students
• Providing help and assistance without doing the work for students
• Showing a genuine interest in each student
• Accepting each student and encouraging the best from them
• Using patience and kindness

Sometimes a volunteer placement may not be a good fit for the volunteer, the teacher or the school. If your volunteer placement does not work for you, the teacher or the school for whatever reason, your volunteer assignment may be rescinded, modified or changed. You also may request a different placement.

Volunteers are expected to:

• Complete the approval process
• Sign in and out at the office and always wear an ID badge while on school grounds
• Wear professional attire
• Show respect for all staff and students
• Share concerns regarding students with the school staff only
• If you cannot make your scheduled volunteer time, please call the school so the teacher is informed
• Please do not bring younger children to the school during your volunteer hours
• Please turn off your cell phone while you are volunteering in the classroom and refrain from making personal calls or texting while on the school campus

Names of approved volunteers may be released to Walla Walla Public Schools PTSAs, upon request, for the purpose of recruiting volunteers or verifying approval status for school activities.

Ground Rules for School District Facilities:

• No smoking, vaping, chewing or tobacco of any kind is allowed, including outdoors and while traveling in district vehicles
• No weapons allowed
• No drugs or alcohol allowed
• Do not use school equipment for personal purposes

Maintain Student Confidentiality:

Volunteers are expected and required to keep all ‘student information’ that they come across while working as a volunteer for the district confidential. Federal law strictly prohibits school districts and district volunteers from releasing any student information without parent/guardian permission. Student information includes all academic, medical and personal information. Volunteers cannot take photos of students during their volunteer activities and post them publicly without authorization from the school. Student work, like artwork or papers, is also protected by law and cannot be shared publicly without written permission.

Disclosure of student information by a volunteer is a violation of the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act of 1974 (FERPA) and may subject the volunteer and the district to civil liability. It is very important that you keep information about students confidential.

Do not discuss students or their progress with others –even their parents. Do not make references to student’s abilities in front of other students. The only person who should be told about a student’s work is their teacher. If parents ask about their student’s progress, suggest in a friendly way that they contact the teacher.

Community Service Hours:

Walla Walla Public Schools strive to find volunteer opportunities that are mutually beneficial to both the volunteer and the students in our schools. We understand that people may need community service hours for a variety of reasons, and ask that volunteers work with their direct supervisors at the school to arrange for signatures that confirm hours worked. However, Walla Walla Public Schools cannot allow volunteers to complete court-ordered community service hours through our schools.

Prohibition of Harassment, Intimidation and Bullying:

The board is committed to a safe and civil educational environment for all students, employees, parents/legal guardians, volunteers and community members that is free from harassment, intimidation and bullying. “Harassment, intimidation or bullying’ means any intentional electronic, written, verbal or physical act, including but not limited to one shown to be motivated by race, color, religion, ancestry, national origin, sexual orientation, including gender expression or identity, mental or physical disability or other distinguishing characteristics when an act:

• Physically harms a student or damages the student’s property
• Has the effect of substantially interfering with a student’s education
• Is so severe, persistent or pervasive that it creates an intimidating or threatening educational environment or
• Has the effect of substantially disrupting the orderly operation of the school

District Harassment Policy:

The district asks you to review pertinent policies in detail prior to volunteering. These policies can be located under “Important School District Policies” at the end of this handbook. Volunteers and parents who engage in harassment, intimidation or bullying on school property or at school activities will be restricted from school property and activities, as appropriate.

Volunteers can help in the school:

• classroom
• office
• library
• classroom activities
• special school events/projects
• art docent program
• parties
• dances
• after school programs
• sports

Each school also has a parent teacher organization that can always use extra volunteers for its programs. Contact your school for more information.

Safe Interaction with Students:

The school board expects that all staff and volunteers will strive to set the kind of example for students that will serve them well in their own conduct and behavior and contribute toward a school atmosphere that is friendly but has a degree of formality.

General Guidelines for Safe Interaction with Students:

All interactions with students should be professional and focused on teaching and learning. These guidelines protect both the student and the volunteer.

Do not:

• Take a student or students on private outings
• Initiate social activities with students
• Have a prolonged verbal exchange with students if you have an impromptu encounter at a public place
• Provide childcare for students
• Ask a student to baby-sit for your family
• Engage in Social Networking with students via Facebook, Instagram, Snapchat, Twitter or any other social networking website to initiate or maintain relationship(s) with any student that is not consistent with appropriate professional behavior and/or boundaries
• Text or call students

Do not:

• Say or write things to a student that you would be uncomfortable sharing with the student’s parents, district/school administrators or the teacher you are working with.
• Make any comments that are based on gender or could be construed as sexist
• Make any comments and/or innuendos that are sexual in nature or could be construed as sexual
• Make jokes that belittle or diminish another person
• Give students compliments that focus on physical attributes
• Initiate conversations or correspondence of a private and/or personal nature with students
• Text or call students

Working Alone with Students at School:

• Always keep the door open and lights on
• Do not post anything on class windows that would obstruct a clear view into the room
• Giving gifts to students is not encouraged. If gifts are provided, they should be:
  • Of nominal value
  • Identical for all students in the class
  • Approved by the teacher or administrator in charge of the program

Physical Contact with Students:

It is the District’s expectation that all physical contact between volunteers and students must be professional and appropriate. For Field Trips and Off-Campus Activities it is the general policy of Walla Walla Public Schools that all off-campus field trip and activity chaperones are at least 21 years of age.

The use of personal vehicles for school district event is not permitted for volunteers.

What is the difference between a chaperone and a volunteer?

For the purpose of volunteering in Walla Walla Public Schools, a chaperone is a volunteer who is over the age of 21 who has the responsibility of supervising students during an off-campus field trip or activity. During these types of activities, teachers are expected to maintain specific chaperone-to-student ratios. (The exact ratio varies based upon age of students and type of activity).

Extracurricular and Enrichment Activities:

Schools often provide before and after-school programs. All extracurricular and enrichment activities must be organized under the authority of Walla Walla Public Schools or its PTA/PTSA partners and comply with all applicable rules and regulations.

Volunteer Coaches:

Individuals who wish to become volunteer coaches for any school must complete the following steps:

1. Complete the Walla Walla School District Volunteer Application and be approved as a volunteer. (This process can take up to two weeks to complete, so volunteers are recommended to begin this process early).
2. Provide proof of valid First Aid and CPR card to the building athletic director. Classes are available through the district if the volunteer does not have current certifications.
3. Review and agree to comply with mandatory reporting information.
4. Review and agree to comply with social media policy and procedure.
5. Complete other applicable WIAA requirements (contact the district athletic director or program head coach for more information)

Please note: Volunteer coaches must be at least 21 years of age to chaperone off-campus activities.

Report Suspected Abuse or Neglect:

As a volunteer, you are in a unique position to observe students. If you suspect that a student may be the victim of abuse or neglect, report it immediately to the principal, school counselor or another school district employee.

• Policy 3205 - Sexual Harassment of Students Prohibited
• Procedure 3205 - Sexual Harassment of Students Prohibited
• Policy 3207 - Prohibition of Harassment, Intimidation and Bullying
• Procedure 3207 - Prohibition of Harassment, Intimidation and Bullying
• Policy 3210 - Nondiscrimination - Students
• Procedure 3210 - Nondiscrimination - Students
• Policy 3211 - Gender-Inclusive Schools
• Procedure 3211 - Gender-Inclusive Schools
• Policy 3421 - Child Abuse and Neglect
• Procedure 3421 - Child Abuse and Neglect
• Policy 4210 - Regulation of Dangerous Weapons on School Premises
• Policy 5253 - Maintaining Professional Staff/Student Boundaries
• Procedure 5253 - Maintaining Professional Staff/Student Boundaries