Volunteer

Why become a volunteer? Because our kids need YOU!

Our nation’s education system is in crisis. It is estimated that every school day, 7,000 students become dropouts. One out of three U.S. students does not graduate from high school. Among students of color, the dropout rate is almost 50 percent.

Nearly 49,000 volunteers donated 2.8 million hours to CIS affiliates across the country last year. By volunteering:
YOU are part of the solution to this epidemic.
YOU are a role model and mentor.
YOU are creating a better community.
YOU are building a better school system.
YOU are changing the future for the children in your neighborhood.

When you volunteer with CIS, you can put your experience, energy and enthusiasm to work to help young people succeed in school. YOU just may make the critical difference in a young person's life!

Opportunities

After-School Programs

Description: CIS collaborates with several local school districts to provide after-school programming.  Students enrolled are at or below proficiency in reading, math, and science as determined on the Pennsylvania System of School Assessment (PSSA). Participating students receive an opportunity to engage in meaningful and fun after-school experiences (yoga, karate, kickball, chess, fieldtrips, etc) conducted in safe and supportive environments.  Students receive homework help and tutoring from caring adults who help reinforce what is being taught during the regular school day using non-traditional methods and fun to help them reach their full potential.

 

CIS After-School Program Locations and Contact Information:

• Penn Hills School District
      Contact: Jean Olivis at (412) 606-2683 or via e-mail at jolivis@cispac.org

 
• Pittsburgh Public Schools - Pittsburgh Minadeo Elementary in Squirrel Hill
      Contact Ja'Sonta Roberts-Deen at (412) 715-2614 or via e-mail at jdmarried@yahoo.com 

 

Volunteer information: Programs operate Monday through Thursday from 3:30 p.m. until 6:30 p.m. Volunteers are needed to provide homework help and help with recreational activities.

 

 CIS Academies

CIS Academies provide non-traditional education for academically at-risk students. CIS is an approved private provider of alternative education through the PA Department of Education and works closely with school districts to provide a rigorous education that meets their standards. Students learn through teacher-led, project-based, computer and book-assisted curriculum individually tailored to meet students academic needs.  The highly qualified staff includes therapeutic counselors, work readiness coordinators, and services coordinators who offer personalized support and assistance to help students to succeed. 

  

CIS Academy Locations and Contact Information

• CIS Alle-Kiski Area Academy — Stephen Puskar, Academy (724) 275-7078 or spuskar@cispac.org.   
• CIS Academy East End –Jesse Sprajcar, Academy Director (412) 361-4945 or jsprajcar@cispac.org.
• CIS Academy South – Wendi Etzel, Academy Director (412) 655-7100 or wetzel@cispac.org.

 Volunteer Information:

• CIS South school hours are Monday through Friday from 8:30 a.m. until 3:30 p.m. We are specifically looking for volunteers to assist students with reading and math. We are also looking for companies with internship opportunities.
• CIS East End school hours are from 8:00 – 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday and we are looking for volunteers to tutor or mentor, and companies with internship opportunities.
• CIS Alle-Kiski operates from 8:00 a.m. until 4:00 p.m. Monday thru Friday and is looking for mentors and internship opportunities.

Be a 6^th Grade Mentor

Share your knowledge, time and career experience with a kid and you’ll both gain something important along the way. Join the biggest mentoring project in the region’s history – run by the United Way and Pittsburgh Public Schools - and show our local kids that anything is possible when they know the education and career opportunities that await. Be a mentor at a school for an hour a week and not only will a child gain critical real-world experience, you’ll see the joy that comes with making a difference.

CIS Be a 6^th Grade Mentor School Locations:

·        Pittsburgh King Accelerated Learning Academy

·         Pittsburgh Allegheny Traditional Academy Magnet School on the North Side 

 

Contact Information (please contact for hours of operation and information on joining):

• Cindy Bostick CIS Career Mentor Coordinator – (412) 266-0798 or email at cbostick@cispac.org