Think you have to be a teacher to make a difference in a classroom? Think again.
Junior Achievement of the Heartland is looking for community volunteers to help bring JA lessons to students across the Quad Cities and surrounding communities during the upcoming school year.
Volunteers don’t need a teaching degree or previous classroom experience. They simply need to be willing to spend some time with students, share what they know and help connect classroom lessons to the real world.
So, what does a JA volunteer actually do?
JA provides the curriculum, lesson plans and materials, so volunteers aren’t responsible for creating a lesson from scratch. Instead, they walk into the classroom with everything they need to lead students through activities and conversations about topics they encounter in everyday life.
Lessons can cover earning and managing money, making choices, setting goals, exploring careers and understanding how the world around them works. Volunteers ask questions, lead activities and share their own experiences while giving students the opportunity to interact with someone from their local community.
“You don’t have to be an expert or have experience in a classroom,” said Lysa Hegland, president and CEO of Junior Achievement of the Heartland. “Our volunteers are simply people who are willing to give their time, share their experiences and help a student see what might be possible for them.”
JA staff also help volunteers prepare before they head into the classroom, making the experience manageable even for someone who has never volunteered with students before.
The time commitment can be flexible, too. Most JA classroom experiences involve a series of short lessons, often taught one class period at a time. Volunteers can choose a classroom opportunity and work with the educator to find a schedule that works.
And while the commitment may only involve a few hours, the impact can last much longer.
A volunteer might help a student understand why saving money matters, spark an interest in a future career or encourage a child to think about goals they had never considered before. Sometimes, it may simply mean giving a student an adult who takes the time to listen, answer questions and show them what possibilities are out there.
“Kids don’t need us to come in and give them a lecture,” Hegland said. “They need people to talk with them, listen to them and help them connect what they’re learning in school to the world they’re going to enter someday. That’s what JA volunteers do.”
Junior Achievement of the Heartland is celebrating 70 years of serving young people and continues to focus on helping students build the knowledge, confidence and real-world experiences they need for life after graduation.
Volunteers are needed throughout JA of the Heartland’s 24-county service area, including the Quad Cities.
Individuals, businesses and community groups can learn more and sign up at heartland.ja.org/volunteer. Those interested in a specific classroom opportunity can also view a list of open classes through the volunteer section of the website.
For more information, contact Cayleah Blaine at [email protected] or 309-277-3901.
