Training is Underway!
In4All has kicked off another program year by offering its volunteer training to its loyal legion of volunteers. The volunteer training is usually one of the first steps in the process of preparing our volunteers to get into the schools to offer the STEM Connect program. It helps provide our volunteers with the foundational information that they need in order to be successful in the classroom.
This year, we at In4All decided to change the structure of the volunteer training a bit. In years past, each business would have their own volunteer training done on-site at their business. With COVID safety precautions and working from home still happening at many of our partner businesses, in-person training wasn't really an option. Therefore, we made the decision to offer live virtual trainings by regions/Impact Circles (Hillsboro, Beaverton, NE Portland, SE Portland, Tigard/Tualatin, etc.). By bringing businesses together who support a specific geographical region/Impact Circle, we are hoping to grow and build our community and create more contacts and connections amongst our partners.
Understanding that year two of COVID hasn't necessarily been any easier on people and that people are feeling more burned out and unable/unwilling to participate in yet another Zoom meeting, In4All decided to offer its volunteers more than one option for training. If a volunteer is unable to attend a live virtual training for their Impact Circle, they are also able to attend a different regional Impact Circle training that works better for their schedule. If a volunteer is unable to attend any of the eight Impact Circle live trainings, they have the option to watch the video recording of the training from their Impact Circle. As a last option, volunteers can also watch a recording of the training on In4All's Community Site- https://www.in4all-community.org/.
The content of the volunteer training covers topics such as: Who In4All is and what and how we do it, Understanding structural and systemic barriers that students face in education and how In4All volunteers can help disrupt these systems, Developmental phases of 4th and 5th grade students and what to expect from them in the classroom, and STEM Connect classroom readiness, the practical next steps that volunteers need to take in order to be ready to enter the classroom.
Speaking of entering the classroom, this year all of our students have returned to in-person learning and so the majority of our volunteers will return to offering the program in the classroom directly with the students.. Some businesses are still prohibiting their employees from attending outside functions in order to keep them and others safe, so some businesses will continue with virtual volunteering this year. With the return to the classroom comes a new hurdle for volunteers. All volunteers have always needed to be background checked in order to volunteer, but this year most school districts have added that in-person volunteers also need to also show proof of COVID vaccination in order to enter the classroom. This is a safety precaution that has been put in place to help keep everyone safe and healthy.
We at In4All are looking forward to kicking off our program in the new calendar year once all of our incredible volunteers have been trained. We can't wait to see our volunteers connect with all of the students and for both the students and volunteers to grow and learn from each other this school year!
In4All STEM Connect Virtual Training Session