Taylor-Aides Offers Volunteer Opportunities

tcrow@taylorisd.org  "It takes a village to raise a child" is a popular proverb with a clear message: the whole community has an essential role to play in the growth and development of its young people. Now, thanks to the new initiative Taylor-Aides, volunteering in the Taylor public schools has never been easier.  

“Community involvement is so essential to our children's success, and Taylor-Aides provides a wide avenue of opportunities to get involved with as little as thirty minutes a month,” said Susan Green, Taylor-Aides volunteer. “It's so important to me that we work together, as a community, to create a better future for our kids.”

 

Volunteer opportunities include Munch Mentors, meeting with students for 30 minutes a week at lunch. Reading Ducks, spending 30 minutes a week reading with kids. Watch Ducks, monitoring the high school hallways. Hot Shots, help with last minute needs. Also, events or occasional volunteering around your schedule and at your preferred campuses. Library and cafeteria help are ongoing needs. 

 

“Taylor-Aides is a great way to get involved in the schools and in the community,” said Lita Gonzales, Taylor-Aides volunteer. “Everyone who is eligible to volunteer has an opportunity to support our schools and students by providing a few minutes or hours of their time. I enjoy helping and working in places where I can encounter students at their level. Hopefully, I bring a little smile and light to their day by just being present and engaged.”

 

Studies of effective schools consistently list high levels of family and community involvement as a characteristic of successful schools. With a goal of connecting parents and community members with Taylor ISD campus and district needs, a core group of six parents got together with the idea of organizing the volunteer effort. For as little as thirty minutes a month, or whenever you are available, you can make a difference and support a campus. 

 

“I have been a volunteer since my daughter started school, and I know how important it is to have the support of parents and the community,” said Stefanie Spells, Taylor-Aides volunteer. “I want to help out as much as I can."

 

Volunteers are already signing up to help in a variety of ways including book fairs, lunch duty, reshelving books and special events. Anyone interested in joining the effort is required to have a criminal background check and to attend a brief orientation. Taylor ISD welcomes your participation. 

 

“I’m involved in Taylor-Aides because I want to support our staff and teachers in ways that allow them to focus more on students and their education,” said Taylor-Aides volunteer, Rachael Westerman.

 

For more information, or to sign-up, please visit www.taylorisd.org (Community tab, then volunteer information). Or contact taylor-aides@taylorisd.org.