The School District of Clay County exists to prepare life-long learners for success in a global and competitive workplace and in acquiring applicable life skills.

Our mission is to work collaboratively with all stakeholders to provide a public education experience that is motivating, challenging, and rewarding for all children. We will increase student achievement by providing students with learning opportunities that are rigorous, relevant, and transcend beyond the boundaries of the school walls. We will ensure a working and learning environment built upon honesty, integrity, and respect. Through these values, we will maximize student potential and promote individual responsibility.

• To provide an opportunity for interested community members to become directly involved with the educational system and educational process of Clay County District Schools.

• To provide individualized educational assistance to students.

• To enrich students’ curriculum, broadening their awareness and experience.

• To assist school personnel with non-instructional tasks and duties.

• To reinforce lessons taught at school.

• To strengthen school-community relations through direct volunteer participation.

• To reinforce the philosophy that learning is important.

• To enhance all aspects of the educational process.

• To stimulate community interest, concern, and support for the public education system. 

Benefits To Individuals And Business

• Volunteering improves employee/member morale and pride in their organization/company.

• Volunteering enhances the business/organization’s relationship with the community.

Benefits To Students

• Volunteering provides students with positive role models who are willing to take an active role in their education.

• Volunteering helps enrich the school community and creates a positive learning environment for all students.

Athletic Coach Volunteers -  At the request of head coaches, these assistant coaches can help develop athletes' skills, knowledge, sportsmanship, and motivation. 

“At Home Projects” - This might be cutting out letters, drawing posters, making crafts - anything that could be done at home. 

Classroom Assistant - Help at the request of a teacher. Possible duties include helping with bulletin boards, making instructional materials, etc.

Community Resource - Upon request of a teacher, speak on subjects of interest to students such as careers, hobbies, etc.

Duplicating - Help to photocopy materials for teachers.

Field Trips - Upon request from the teacher, help chaperone students during a field trip. 

Hallway Monitor - Monitor students during class transition times.

Homeroom Parent - Help assist a teacher in classroom events, and serve as a liaison to parents for disseminating information, i.e. phone tree.

Lunch Assistant - Work in the cafeteria to assist students with lunch and monitor the cafeteria. 

Office Assistant - Help with general office duties.

PFA / SAC - Attend and participate in the school’s Parent Faculty Association/School Advisory Councils, which help develop and implement the School's Improvement Plan.

Special Events -  Assist with special events, such as Science Fairs, Book Fairs, School Picture Days, etc.

Storytelling / Reading - At the request of teachers, work with small groups in reading or telling stories for literacy support.

• Before the first session of tutoring, the tutor must have a conference with the student’s teacher.

• Establish where the student is in their work by asking the student to explain some of the work that has been done previously.

• If you are going to miss a session, call the school and have a message relayed to the student as soon as possible.

• Remember that you are acting as a role model for your student and you should dress and act appropriately.

• Don’t let an unhappy tutoring situation continue for long. Seek help from the teacher if needed. 

• Repetition is the name of the game. Devising different ways to get the student to repeat what is being learned will prove most successful.

• Give the student opportunities to make decisions about your work together, and then carry through.

• Games are a powerful teaching tool. Use them and talk about them with your student(s).

• Each student is an individual and is motivated by different reward systems.

• Be sincere,  and praise an honest effort by the student.

Volunteers are a valuable asset to our schools. Volunteers might be parents, grandparents, students, retired educators, business partners, or other community members. Volunteers provide supportive and reinforcing services to students and school staff. They can share their expertise with students, provide an extra set of eyes and hands for teachers, assist students with academics, chaperone field trips, answer phones, and convey to students that everybody cares about their education. Volunteers then become representatives of the school. The following guidelines have been established by the Superintendent and should be shared with volunteers and staff working with volunteers.

• School volunteers work only at the request/discretion of the Principal, Teacher, and/ or the Volunteer Coordinator.

• The school retains the right to accept or reject the services of a volunteer.

• Level 2 volunteers must be required by the principal to complete the volunteer application form.

• Volunteers should attend volunteer orientation with the school volunteer coordinator.

• Mentors and volunteer tutors who work one-on-one with students are subject to background checks in compliance with the Jessica Lunsford Act and will need to obtain Level 2 clearance.

• The school volunteer coordinator should maintain records of volunteer service hours, duties, and training for the annual report to the Florida DOE.

• Volunteers may not have access to the files or permanent records of students. 

• Florida Retirement System retirees may not volunteer until one year past their retirement date. 

• Volunteers are required to report to the appropriate administrator if they have reason to believe a student is being abused or is a threat to himself/herself or to others.

• Volunteers may not give medication to students.

• If volunteers are injured when acting as school volunteers, they must notify the principal.

• Volunteers working under the supervision of a Clay County School Board authorized employee are covered in terms of liability for their actions if performed in reasonable good faith and judgment.

• Individuals who are required by a court to perform community service may not volunteer to work one-on-one with a student.

• The Raptor system will be used to screen volunteers and log their time on campus.  Therefore, all volunteers must log in AND out with each visit. All visitors on any CCDS campus will be scanned using a government issued ID.

Volunteers Must:

• Be screened through the Raptor system each time they enter campus or volunteer

• Show a photo ID and sign in and out in the school’s front office for each visit/event.  This is important for the following reasons:

  • Our students’ safety and maintaining campus security is of the utmost importance. This supports knowing who is on campus at all times.

  • Verified volunteer service can be used as work experience for future employment.

  • Individual volunteers may be recognized for their dedication and service to our schools.

  • Schools are eligible for annual state awards based on their volunteer hours.

  • Your school and the district would like the opportunity to thank you for your service. 

• Always work under the supervision of a teacher or administrator unless the volunteer has received Level 2 clearance

• Maintain strict confidentiality with all school or classroom information to which they may have access

• Serve as positive role models

• Dress professionally and appropriately for the work environment

• Work within all guidelines and policies established by the Superintendent and School Board

• Have a clear understanding of all state and district instructional practices and policies relevant to volunteer responsibilities

• Follow staff directions in the event of a fire drill, lockdown, or evacuation

• Chaperones/volunteers must remain with the assigned student group at all times

Volunteers May Not:

• Establish educational objectives

• Be left alone with a child or with a class unless they have Level 2 clearance

• Give medication to students

• Discipline students, but should refer the matter to the supervising teacher

• Evaluate student progress

• Have access to the files or permanent records of students

• Make decisions regarding the relevance of certain activities or procedures to the attainment of instructional objectives

• Have access to permanent student records, student grades, or any other confidential materials or information

• Conduct duties or tasks that belong to teachers, such as grading papers

• Bring preschool or other children who are not registered at the school where they volunteer

• Take pictures or video of students (other than their own) or CCDS employee

• Chaperones/volunteers are prohibited from consuming alcoholic beverages or mood altering chemicals at any time, and should refrain from smoking and using any tobacco products(s) including e-cigarettes in the presence of students.

Level 1:

• Level 1 volunteers must obtain clearance through the Raptor system each time they enter campus or volunteer.

• Level 1 volunteers Must Always Be In The Presence of A Ccds Employee. Examples include:

  • Chaperoning daytime group field trips

  • Assisting in a classroom or at the school site

  • Assisting with a district-level department or program

Level 2:

• Fingerprinting is required in order to conduct a State and National background clearance.

• Duties assigned outside the immediate presence of a CCDS employee include, but are not limited to:

  • Chaperoning field trips to areas such as theme parks where volunteers are not in eyesight of CCDS employees and/or overnight field trips

  • Mentoring

  • Transporting students in a vehicle without a CCDS employee

  • Volunteer (non-paid) athletic coaches

• Potential volunteers will be notified by the school if fingerprint registration is necessary based on the type of field trip or activity.

• Fingerprinting is done at the cost of the volunteer. Fingerprints are only required every five years. In order to obtain and renew the Level 2 clearance, please register as a volunteer and follow directions for the Level 2 process.

• Level 2 volunteers must obtain clearance through the Raptor system each time they enter campus or volunteer.

Volunteers/Mentors, who may be in close, unsupervised contact with students, must have a fingerprint/background check through a Level 2 clearance. The cost for such a check shall be borne by the individual or the agency, with which the volunteer/mentor works.

A volunteer is defined as any individual who assists in any school program without pay. School volunteers may include, but not be limited to, parents, senior citizens, students, grandparents, and others who assist the teacher or other members of the school staff.

Volunteers will work within the guidelines established by the superintendent and the school administration and will work under the supervision of teachers and school staff members.

As provided by Florida State School Board Rules, the principal of the school shall ensure that each volunteer and the supervising teacher or coordinator possess a clear understanding of state and district rules and policies relevant to volunteer responsibilities. 

To view the full policy please use the following link: Section 2.00 Human Resources

Chaperones on Field Trips

As per SB Policy 4.28 (Pages 52-53) Chaperones on School Trips and FS 1001.41

Chaperones on school trips who are not employees of the School Board may be used and be considered “Agents of the Board”, provided they are so designated, in writing, by the school principal and are registered volunteers. Chaperones shall not take the place of teachers or other School Board employees normally assigned. Overall, the adult to student ratio should be 1:10  or less. Schools have at their discretion the ability to determine the number of chaperones (non-School Board employees) for each event as long as the school meets the minimum adult/student ratio. Principals are cautioned to be certain that chaperons are of legal age and are competent and capable individuals.

1. Chaperones/volunteers may not bring preschoolers or children who are not registered at the school for which they are volunteering on the trip.

2. Chaperones/volunteers must be appropriately dressed at all times.

3. Chaperones/volunteers are responsible for student safety above all else and must report to someone in authority any safety concerns or emergency issues relating to students.

4. Chaperones/volunteers must always serve as positive role models using appropriate language and discussing only age-appropriate matters with students.

5. Chaperones/volunteers are to follow the instructions given by the person in charge of the event.

6. Chaperones/volunteers must be at least 18 years of age or older.

7. Chaperones/volunteers on out-of-town or overnight trips assume 24 hour-a-day responsibility and are always considered “on duty.”

8. Chaperones/volunteers must remain with the group at all times, are prohibited from consuming alcoholic beverages or mood altering chemicals at any time, and should refrain from smoking and using any tobacco products(s) including e-cigarettes in the presence of students.

These dedicated staff members are here to help you:

Paula Summers

• Specialist-Family and Community Engagement

• Email Paula Summers

Karen McMillan

• Coordinator-Family and Community Engagement

• Email Karen McMillan