VOLUNTEER WITH US
When you volunteer with Communities In Schools of New Mexico, you make a difference by giving your time. CIS supports over 6,000 students in the Santa Fe public schools. Our volunteers are vital to empowering students to stay in school and succeed in life.
During the 2017-18 school year, volunteers donated 3,449 hours, the equivalent of 1.5 full-time employees.
Volunteer Positions
Tutoring Program
Volunteer tutors are matched with students who are struggling in a particular subject or social/emotional skill, like building positive relationships with others. Tutors and their students meet at least one hour per week; thereby improving knowledge and skills and strengthening self-confidence.
Foodie Program
Communities In Schools partners with The Food Depot to distribute more than 100,000 pounds of fresh and perishable groceries to our families. Once a week, our Site Coordinators’ offices turn into food pantries where students and their families are able to pick up bags or boxes of groceries to help feed their families for the weekend. Our Foodie volunteers help with food pick-up, snack bag sorting and food distribution to classrooms. Shift lengths are generally 2 hours, once a week.
Special Projects
Occasionally CIS also needs help with special projects, rangiing from Site Coordinator support to administrative support. These projects happen sporadically throughout the year. Volunteers are notified of these opportunities as they occur. Shift lengths vary, depending on the project.
IT TAKES A VILLAGE
Make a difference by giving your time. Volunteer to help Santa Fe Students.
Volunteer support adds a lot of hope to our educational goals for many of our students. With your help, we are doing our best to steer our students towards academic and personal success!
Sinte Torrez, Capital High School Site Coordinator
Contact Our Volunteer Coordinator
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I become a volunteer?
Becoming a volunteer is an easy 4-step process:
- Click the button below for the volunteer application, complete it and hit SUBMIT. Your application will go directly to Kate, our Volunteer Coordinator.
- Complete the Santa Fe Public Schools volunteer application.
- Get fingerprinted and clear a background check, as mandated by Santa Fe Public Schools.
- Attend a CIS Volunteer Orientation and be placed in a local school!
What if I need to miss a week or more?
When life happens and you need to be away for vacation, illness or other events we ask that you communicate directly with your Site Coordinator and the Volunteer Coordinator.
Will I have support from CIS staff?
Yes! Volunteers have support on campus from their Site Coordinator and also from Kate, the Volunteer Coordinator. We provide orientation and share training opportunities regularly to ensure you feel supported and successful in your placement. Your time is valuable to us, so we make every effort to support you.
What if I’ve never tutored before?
Our tutors come from a variety of professional backgrounds, such as retired teachers, bankers, administrative employees, and college students. We provide initial training and new volunteers may observe similar placements with experienced tutors. We also connect volunteers to content-specific trainings and other resources available in our community.
What is the commitment I need to make?
We ask both volunteer tutors and Foodies to commit to at least one hour a week during the school year. We also ask that new volunteers agree to be available to start within 30 days of receiving their background check clearance from the District.
Still have questions?
Contact our Volunteer Coordinator, Kate Mitchell at kmitchell@cisnm.org or (505) 954-1880. She's happy to answer any additional questions you have!
Do I need to pay any fees to become a volunteer?
No, CIS is happy to cover all background check/fingerprinting fees. However, because we are a nonprofit organization, some of our volunteers offer to cover those costs.