With no salary and yet one of the biggest responsibilities in society—educating our youth—volunteer teachers are often under-recognized. The President’s Volunteer Service Award seeks to change that.
This year five Santa Clara County residents are being praised for their work as volunteer teachers for Citizen Schools with a presidential award. The Corporation for National and Community Service has partnered up with international nonprofit Points of Light every year since 2003 to give volunteers who dedicate large amounts of their time to the greater good of their community or nation. President Obama will present the award to CitizenTeachers: Steven Cooper, Douglas Campbell, Jason Lee, Fadi Afa Al-Refaee and Itzik Gilboa of San Jose.
Citizen Schools is a nonprofit that works with middle schoolers to provide them with professional skills. The program spans 10 weeks, and these volunteers give their professional advice to help sixth through eighth graders learn how to give oral presentations, analyze data, learn more about technology, learn how to be a leader and be a part of a team, all at the same time.
Citizen Schools offers apprenticeships to these middle schoolers in subjects that include: media and communications, law and government, health and well-being, environment, community service, business, and arts and culture. This allows volunteers to take their field of expertise and apply this knowledge to teaching students.
“Our gold and silver level Presidential Service Award Winners are all talented and dedicated volunteers who embody what Citizen Schools mission is all about,” Citizen Schools CEO Emily McCann said. “Not only do we congratulate them for this recognition, we also thank them for their commitment and passion they bring to the classrooms they serve.”
Along with presidential recognition, award winners will receive a personalized certificate, an official pin, medallion or coin, and a congratulatory letter from President Obama.