School system asks retirees to volunteer

Hoping to take advantage of the unique talents and abilities of the growing number of retirees in the community, Warren County Schools has begun a volunteer program in its special education department.

“There’s an increasing number of retired people in Warren County and these are people who are willing to work,” said volunteer program coordinator Cynthia Campen.

“They’re looking for something fulfilling and we could use their talents.”

The program, known as VISER, or Volunteers In Special Education, was the brainchild of special education director Linda Wilson. It recently came to fruition, Campen said, with help from the Retired Seniors Volunteer Program (RSVP), who provided the initial set of volunteers.

In short, VISER will allow volunteers to work in classrooms with physically handicapped students to gifted students “and everything in-between,” said Campen. Duties will include tutoring, reading to students, assisting teachers with paperwork, and housekeeping chores.

“We’re going to have the volunteers fill out an interest inventory and we’ll try to match them with what teachers across the system need or want,” Campen said. “They can volunteer as much, or as little, as they have time.”

About a dozen volunteers attended a training session at Hickory Creek Elementary last week.

They learned about the need for confidentiality in special education and the need to use self-esteem-affirming language and actions with the students.

In addition to the training session, volunteers must also be fingerprinted and undergo a background check.

Former school board member Stanley Barnes and his wife, Nadine, were among the retirees at the training session. Having volunteered at Irving College Elementary for the past few years, Barnes said the program will put him there on an “official” basis.

“I signed up for two hours a week, but I’ll work longer if they need me,” Barnes said.

While retirees are currently the focus of VISER, Campen said the program is looking for any willing volunteers, be they parents, grandparents, professionals and general community residents.

“If you can spare an hour a week, we could use you,” Campen said.

She added that if the VISER program is successful, she would like to see it expanded to the entire school system.

If interested in volunteering or learning more about VISER, contact Campen at 668-1728.