Volunteer at Notre Dame Education Center
Volunteers have been an important part of NDEC since its inception in 1992. Our volunteers are a diverse group—college students, homemakers, retirees, and professionals in a wide range of fields. We are always looking for committed individuals willing to share their time and skills with our students. Notre Dame provides a comprehensive training, including a general overview of the adult basic education; content-specific training; classroom observation; and conferencing (often via email) with the Volunteer Coordinator during the course of the year.
Academic Support
Academic Support
Many volunteers offer academic support as classroom assistants in one of our more than 45 classes in four academic programs: ABE and HiSET; ESOL; Workplace Readiness and Career Pathways; and Youth Services. The latter program offers both alternative high school diploma and a HiSET preparation courses, The HiSET preparation course is housed at the Tierney Center in the Homes at Old Colony development in South Boston.
The volunteer classroom assistant’s role varies according to the needs of the particular class. For example, in ESOL classes, the volunteer might circulate in the computer lab to make sure that students are on task; provide individual listening and speaking practice for a struggling student; or re-explain particular points of English grammar. In ABE and HiSET, the need is often for reinforcement of math instruction; assistance with essay planning, writing, and editing; or modeling of reading-comprehension strategies.
Other Volunteering
Supplemental Volunteering
Volunteers sometimes work outside of classroom hours to provide additional support to those who have a clear need for such intervention. The support is generally aimed at academic deficiencies.
Other Volunteering Possibilities
Volunteers sometimes provide office support and assist with fundraising and special events like the annual Notre Dame Holiday Fair.
We also welcome volunteers with specific professional expertise, as well as those with background in interviewing, hiring, and managing, to help support Notre Dame students in their professional development and career evolution.
The NDEC Workforce Readiness and Career Pathways Department actively seeks partner sites for student internships.
Please contact Sr. Peggy Cummins, Volunteer Coordinator, (617) 268-1912 ex. 246 or pcummins@ndecboston.org.