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Volunteer in a School

Volunteering with APS is an important way to give back, and your contributions enrich our educational programs and empower our students. Our volunteer network has grown to represent more than 5,000 volunteers who contribute to the community, our programs and most of all, our students.

Application Process and FAQ

Interested in volunteering with us? To ensure the safety of our students, staff and visitors, there are a few steps to complete before beginning your service.

  1. Complete the?Volunteer Application Form. To begin the application process, click on the link below:
  2. Complete the mandatory online Safe Schools Sexual Misconduct training. Before the volunteer application is approved, the sexual misconduct training must be successfully completed. This training is required for any volunteer (parent or community member) who supports schools, chaperones a field trip, etc.
  3. Contact the school(s) where you wish to serve. Each volunteer will be informed once their application is approved. If you do not hear back about the status of your application within one week please contact Dawn Smith and let her know how you want to get involved. Once approved, your application is valid for three years.?

When filling out the application, please note that applicants are required to complete all fields that are marked with an asterisk.

How to Volunteer:? Frequently Asked Questions

Who can be a volunteer?

Volunteers may include parents/guardians and other family members, as well as members of the community interested in supporting education and have any interest in investing their time and talents to support students in ÐÓ°ÉÊÓƵ.

How do I become a volunteer?

All volunteers who?regularly?support schools and school sponsored activities must complete an application and State-mandated Safe Schools Training for volunteers and chaperones. This training requirement also applies to volunteers who regularly help in the classroom, and those who wish to attend field trips and chaperone trips to the Outdoor Lab. The application and online training is provided in English and Spanish.

Who needs to complete the application and training? Who is exempt?

For the 2023-24 school year, everyone who wants to support our schools and students as a volunteer on a regular and one time basis must complete the process. This includes those who chaperone lunch, help in the classroom, attend field trips, volunteers in other capacity, and also includes enrichment providers.

Why do I need to complete this process if I want to chaperone my student¡¯s field trip?

It is essential that chaperones complete the process since they are often off-site, off school grounds with groups of students other than their own children and may be unsupervised by APS staff members during those trips at certain times.

What is Raptor Technologies??

Raptor Technologies is the online platform APS uses for the Visitor Management System as well as for volunteers, sex offender screening and the visitor, volunteer, contractor, and staff sign in/out process. Individuals wishing to volunteer with an individual school or multiple schools is able to complete their application online in English and Spanish by accessing the Raptor Technology systems links dedicated to the school division.?

Where can I find the online volunteer application link?

The link to the online application can be found by clicking one of the links below.

How will APS know that I have completed the training?

Participation is recorded and tracked by APS within the Safe Schools System. Schools will access a report listing the family and community members who have successfully completed the training. Once complete, contact the school liaison with your certificate and they will load it into the Raptor system so that you will be approved for three years.

How long does it take to complete the volunteer process?

The volunteer process usually takes about a week from start to finish.

  • Fill out the volunteer application online (approx. five minutes)
  • Receive the Safe Schools training link (usually within 48 hours of completing the application)
  • Complete the online training (approx. 35 minutes)
  • Send certificate to Alicia Zekan in School & Community Relations, alicia.zekan@apsva.us.
  • Receive approval email (within one week)
  • If you have questions about the approval process, contact Alicia Zekan at alicia.zekan@apsva.us.

How do I find volunteer opportunities?

The best way to begin volunteering is to contact the school directly to find out what volunteer opportunities are available.

What procedures do I follow when volunteering?

To best support school staff and students, volunteers are expected to follow these procedures each time they volunteer:

  • Volunteers must sign-in and sign-out of the building using the Visitor Management System (VMS).
  • Volunteers must wear the VMS produced volunteer identification name tag at all times while on school property.
  • Volunteers may not access confidential student or personnel records and should respect the confidentiality of students.
  • Volunteers working with students must be within view of other APS staff members and avoid unsupervised, one-on-one student contact.

Who should I contact if I have questions or concerns about my role as a volunteer or required volunteer training?

For concerns not addressed at the school level, contact Dawn Smith, Volunteer, Partnership and Events Manager.? She can be reached by email at dawn.smith@apsva.us or by phone at 703-228-2581.

Contact

We appreciate your interest in working with our students and our schools!

Dawn Smith
Volunteers, Partnership and Events Manager

2110 Washington Blvd, 4th Floor
ÐÓ°ÉÊÓƵ, VA 22204
Email:?dawn.smith@apsva.us
Phone: 703-228-2581

Alicia Zekan
Volunteer Applications
alicia.zekan@apsva.us
703-228-6002