MTRS Community bulletin board

The Massachusetts Teachers’ Retirement System provides links to the websites of these agencies and organizations as a public service. The MTRS does not do any investigation of the organizations and does not exercise control over them or the content of their websites. The presence of a link here should not be considered as an endorsement of the organization or its site’s contents by the MTRS.

As a retired educator, you are highly sought after for volunteer and employment opportunities! Many local organizations contact us seeking retired educators to volunteer their talents and expertise, and we post them here as a service to our members.

Employment opportunities for retirees

Please note: If you are currently receiving a retirement benefit from the MTRS, and are interested in any of these employment opportunities, please be sure to learn about the restrictions on working after retirement.

Confirmed on February 1, 2012

Hiring for After School Tutoring in Lowell

PCALET is looking for teachers and teachers’ assistants for regular, bilingual, special education, ESL and ELL, and who are enthusiastic, computer literate, with references and good organizational skills. Our ideal candidate is able to work after school Monday through Friday from 1:30 to 4:50 p.m. in Lowell. Teacher certification is not required to tutor students in reading and mathematics. Materials and training are provided. Teachers will integrate additional practices through computer labs. Materials include intervention book programs from Houghton Mifflin Harcourt.

• Retired teachers: $40/hour
• Certified teachers: $45/hour
• Teachers with no certification: $30-40/hour
• Teacher assistants: $15-20/hour

We look forward to hearing from you. PLEASE CALL OR E-MAIL YOUR RÉSUMÉ TO: César A. Sánchez, Director, 617-461-3222, mailto:pcaleteduma@hotmail.com

Confirmed on January 3, 2012

School on Wheels New Bedford Site Coordinator
Job description

Contact: Robin Gilbert
             Program Director, School on Wheels
             508-587-9091
             robin@sowma.org

• School on Wheels of Massachusetts is a non-profit organization with a mission to educate children experiencing homelessness by providing academic support and one-on-one mentoring so children can reach their full potential. Our main program is one-on-one tutoring at shelters and schools. We are currently seeking an English and Spanish speaker to be a Site Coordinator at a shelter in New Bedford. The Site Coordinator supervises the tutors and students at a particular site, and is the connection among shelter/school staff, children and families, tutors, and School on Wheels staff.
  
• Days/Hours: Tuesday and Thursday evenings, 6:00–8:00 p.m.
• Compensation: $15/hour

Confirmed on May 10, 2011

Recruiting SES Tutors for the 2011-2012 School Year

BES Educators, LLC (BES) is a regional provider of Title 1 Supplemental Education Services (SES). We are seeking current or retired certified Massachusetts educators for our 2011-2012 Massachusetts elementary and middle school programs. Our programs are school based and take place after school; we offer tutoring in reading/language arts and mathematics for students in Kindergarten through Grade 8.

BES’ founders are educators and we believe that a strong SES program should enrich the educational environment of the whole school. We are highly responsive to individual student learning needs and we work extremely closely with a school’s administrators and educators to insure that our program is an extension of and enhancement to a school’s existing curriculum. Our SES program has grown exponentially since our inception because of our reputation as a high quality provider of SES, the strong program we offer and the progress that parents, teachers and school administrators have seen students make in the classroom.

Updated on October 5, 2010

Wanted: Tutors for after-school programs in Boston, Cambridge, Everett, Fall River, Holyoke, Lawrence, Lowell, Lynn, Revere, Salem, Springfield, Westfield, West Springfield, Worcester

The Boston Learning Center is looking for trained and experienced tutors to work with elementary, middle and high school students in a federally funded after-school program in several Massachusetts school districts. We pay you $25/hour for one-on-one tutoring, and more for small groups (2–6). Tutoring will commence beginning in December and continue for up to 50 hours per student. If you are interested in learning more about this opportunity, please e-mail your résumé to peter@bostonlearningcenter.org and we will call you to arrange an interview.

Confirmed on October 4, 2010

Pearson Seeks Educator Licensure Test Scorers

The Evaluation Systems group Pearson is seeking retired Massachusetts educators to score constructed responses for educator licensure tests in various subjects. This work is an opportunity to earn some extra money, earn Professional Development Points, work with peers to support the teaching profession, and contribute to the quality of public education in the state. Prior experience is not required. Each day begins with a training event for all scorers. Experienced scorers are available throughout the day to help others.

Scoring sessions take place on weekdays at our offices in Hadley, MA, near the University of Massachusetts’ Amherst campus. There is ample free parking. Lunch is provided; complimentary coffee and tea are available throughout the day.

Sessions take place several times throughout the year. Most scorers enjoy the process and return to participate in each cycle. Scorers can select which sessions they attend depending on their personal availability.

People are eligible to participate if they hold a current Massachusetts Teacher License and have taught in Massachusetts schools—public or private—within the last 2 years, including regular substitute teaching. For more information and/or to apply, please e-mail your resume and/or description of your teaching background to matthew.bartlett@pearson.com.

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Volunteer opportunities for retirees

Confirmed on January 3, 2012

Make a difference in a child’s life with School on Wheels of Massachusetts
Volunteer tutors needed in New Bedford now

Can you spare an hour or two a week to change the future of a child experiencing homelessness?

School on Wheels of Massachusetts (SOWMA) is seeking volunteers to become one-on-one afterschool tutors/mentors and positive adult role models for children experiencing homelessness in New Bedford.

The greatest need now is for English- and Spanish-speaking volunteers to tutor at the HarbOur House in New Bedford on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 6:30 – 7:30 p.m. Volunteer tutor training will be held on Saturday, January 7, 2012, from 10:30 a.m. – 1:00 p.m. at HarbOur House, 713 Shawmut Ave., New Bedford.

SOWMA tutors help pre-K through 12th grade students overcome obstacles to learning and achieve their full educational potential. Tutors receive training in effective tutoring strategies and ongoing support from SOWMA’s professional staff. No prior experience is needed. A three month commitment is requested. Volunteers are required to go through a 2.5 hour tutor training session before working with a SOWMA student.

To find out more about becoming a one-on-one afterschool tutor/mentor for a child experiencing homelessness in New Bedford, Brockton, Middleboro, Norwell, or Stoughton, contact Robin Gilbert at robin@sowma.org, or phone 508.587-9091. Learn more by visiting the SOWMA website at www.sowma.org.

About School on Wheels of Massachusetts
School on Wheels of Massachusetts is the only organization providing one-on-one tutoring, new backpacks and school supplies, and educational advocacy and support to children experiencing homelessness in multiple locations. SOWMA is dedicated to helping each child reach his or her full academic potential. To make a donation to SOWMA or to find out more about their programs for children and teens impacted by homelessness, visit their website at www.sowma.org, or phone 508-587-9091.

Confirmed on November 14, 2011

Make a difference in a child’s life and your own

Become a Newton School Volunteer. Help a student gain confidence and competence in mathematics.

• Tutor a student in grade 2-5 once a week for 30-45 minutes
• Select your preferred school, grade level, day, and time
• Play special math games that reinforce skills and help students learn basic mathematics concepts
• Receive training, Everyday Math books and learning materials, and ongoing support

For more information, please contact the program coordinator, Ellen Bender @ 617.559.6131 or ellen_bender@newton.k12.ma.us .

Confirmed on October 27, 2011

Educator Mentor Corps

The EMC-AmeriCorps Program is a service initiative of the Aspire Institute at Wheelock College that mobilizes skilled, experienced educators to help support, inspire and retain the next generation of urban teachers. These educators serve as mentors to teachers after their first year in Boston and Chelsea Public Schools and preschools. Ideal candidates are retired or working part-time, have ten or more years of experience working as educators, and live or can travel to the Greater Boston area. As AmeriCorps members, mentors receive small stipends and other benefits. If you or anyone you know may be interested in this exciting opportunity, please reach out to us or apply online!

For more information: http://www.wheelock.edu/wheelock/academics/centers-and-institutes/aspire-institute/educator-mentor-corps

To apply: http://www.wheelock.edu/aspire/emcapp.asp

Updated on November 15, 2010

Discover the satisfaction of tutoring in Adult Basic Education!

Many adults are improving their lives by taking classes in basic reading, writing and math or English for Speakers of Other Languages. Adult Basic Education classrooms need tutors to provide additional support to these learners, many of whom struggle with learning disabilities. An hour or two of your time each week can help them break the generational cycle of illiteracy, get better jobs and become more active participants in their community. Tutors who are retired from teaching enjoy using their skills gained from years in the classroom with our motivated learners (not to mention the freedom from administrative duties).

The Holyoke Tutor/Mentor Program is currently recruiting volunteers. Full training and support is provided. For more information, go to bit.ly/90QcIW or call Emily Fox at 413-552-2932.

Confirmed on October 19, 2010

Newton Community Service Center celebrates a century of service to the families and children in the area!

• Work with children providing childcare, supervision or menu planning in our Early Education and Child Care Programs which are open year round.
• Become a Prevention Specialist in our Child Assault Prevention Program which presents programs in the Newton elementary schools during the academic year.
• Be a homework helper in the After School Program.
• Train as a Home Visitor for the Parent-Child Home Program, an early literacy program which runs during the academic year.
• Help Newton residents enjoy Newton Unplugged Month by helping to plan and coordinate an annual month of events and activities designed to entice Newton residents to turn off their electronics and engage in “non-electric” activities. Commitment runs from end of January through April.
• Mentor local teenagers in the Teen REACH Program by sharing your time, talents and experience to help with homework, job search, college applications and more. 

Other opportunities are often available. We are conveniently located just off West Newton Center, near the cinema. Training and support are provided and the hours are flexible. Please contact Claire Kashuck at 617.969.5906 x210 or via e-mail at ckashuck@ncscweb.org.

Updated on October 7, 2010

You Can Be a Special Education Surrogate Parent

Are you interested in supporting kids in your community? You can help to by volunteering to become an important member of the special education team for a student in the custody of the Department of Children and Families (DCF). Volunteers collaborate with DCF, the child’s school and community partners to ensure the student has access to educational services and supports. Join us at one of our free training sessions where you will learn about the role of a Special Education Surrogate Parent, the special education process, resources in the community and how you can make a difference in the life of a child!

For additional information please call 508-792-7679 or visit the website at http://www.sespprogram.org.

Confirmed on October 6, 2010

Springfield Museums: Science Docent Program

What is a Science Docent?
Science docents are volunteer museum educators. They conduct tours and programs in the Science Museum with students in grades K-12 and adult audiences. Docents attend classes to learn about the collections of the Science Museum so that they can share that knowledge with visitors.

What is the time commitment?
Docents are expected to attend up to 20 training classes, meeting weekly. Classes will be held Wednesdays from 2:00–3:30 p.m. beginning late September 2009. Training ends in winter 2010. Docents are asked to give a minimum of 20 programs per year for 2 years.

Benefits of being a Docent
Active docents receive numerous privileges and educational opportunities including:

• Free college-level training program in science
• Discounts on Museum School courses
• Museum Store discounts
• Docent newsletters
• Free admission to Museums à la Carte programs
• Invitations to docent sociel events including docent picnic, holiday luncheon, bus trips and graduation/recognition events
• Ongoing training led by curators, scholars and museum educators

For more information about the Springfield Museums
Visit our website at www.springfieldmuseums.org or to request a docent application, please contact Katie Merrill at 413-263-6800, ext. 331 or e-mail docents@springfieldmuseums.org.

Confirmed on October 6, 2010

Wanted: Literacy tutors

We need volunteers to work one-to-one with adult immigrants learning
basic English communication, literacy, and intercultural skills.
Student/tutor pairs meet for about one hour, twice a week, at whatever
time and location is convenient for both. Jones Library provides
materials, meeting space, training, and ongoing support to volunteer
tutors.

Retired educators are highly prized by our immigrant students, and we
get frequent requests for such volunteers.

To learn more about the program, please visit our web site:
http://www.joneslibrary.org/esl/volunteer/volunteers.html

Not in the Amherst area? Find other opportunities across the Commonwealth on the web site for Literacy Volunteers of Massachusetts:
http://www.lvm.org/volunteers.aspx

Not in Massachusetts? For a national database of literacy programs for volunteers, please go to http://www.vluonline.org/volunteer/where.asp

Confirmed on October 6, 2010

DIVE into this volunteer opportunity!

Learn about marine biology and help the New England Aquarium with its mission: Present, promote and protect the world of water. The New England Aquarium needs your help in sharing interesting stories that visitors don’t usually hear, and information about its exhibits. If you’re interested in learning and sharing, please visit the Aquarium’s website and view its Aquarium Guide volunteer description at www.neaq.org (you can apply right online) or call the volunteer office at 617-973-5235.

Confirmed on October 5, 2010

Beacon Hospice seeks local volunteers—become someone’s last
new friend!

Beacon Hospice provides quality end-of-life care to local terminally-ill patients. We are looking for caring and compassionate individuals in your area to spend time with our patients. Over half of our patients have little to no visitors and really enjoy friendly visits from a volunteer. Volunteers can provide much needed support to patients and their families in a number of ways including:

• visiting with patients on an ongoing basis,
• sitting vigils,
• knitting, crocheting, quilting and,
• organizing craft projects.

There is a free training course that is required on what hospice is and how to interact with hospice patients. For more information, interested volunteers should contact: Deb Culhane, Volunteer Coordinator, at (508) 324-1900, extension 33.

Updated on October 5, 2010

Help teach language, literacy and social skills to preschoolers in South Boston, Roxbury and Dorchester

Jumpstart Community Corps is looking for retired educators to work one-to-one with preschool children in South Boston, Roxbury or Dorchester. Our mission is to work toward the day that every child enters school prepared to succeed, and we are asking you to give the greatest gift of all—your time! Volunteers serve two afternoons per week for three hours at a time during the school year, working one-on-one with preschool children in Head Start preschools and local community preschools on language, literacy and social skills. Comprehensive training and monthly stipend are provided. For more information, please call Jessie Trowbridge at 857-413-4548.

Updated on October 5, 2010

Four notices from the Massachusetts Department of Correction:

1) Volunteer in a prison to help someone stay out of prison
The Massachusetts Department of Correction seeks you—retired educators—to participate in providing programs and services that will help offenders become more productive, educated, self-sufficient and law abiding citizens. Committed to enhancing, promoting and creating a supportive environment for the utilization of volunteers within prison facilities, the Department of Corrections offers more than 100 volunteer programs in the areas of life skills, family life programs, GED tutoring, anger management, emotional awareness, public speaking, general education, religion, substance abuse, support groups and more. For information on volunteering, please contact Bill Milhomme, Director of Volunteer Services, at 508-620-6437, ext. 104, or, via e-mail, at wtmilhomme@doc.state.ma.us.

2) Share your love of—and appreciation for—teaching, with incarcerated mothers, so that they may pass it on to their children
The majority of female offenders at MCI-Framingham are mothers of school-aged children, kindergarten through high school. MCI-Framingham is interested to commence a program that will bring into the facility teachers of all grade levels to speak to the incarcerated mothers about the importance of sustaining and motivating themselves and their children to be successful in school. Topics include: the importance of nutrition (breakfast/snacks), homework, hygiene, reading comprehension, parent teacher conferences and communication, and more.

If you are interested in volunteering your love and gift of teaching and sharing it with incarcerated mothers, please contact Bill Milhomme, Director of Volunteer Services, at 508-620-6437, ext. 104, or, via e-mail, at wtmilhomme@doc.state.ma.us.

3) Volunteer facilitated cognitive skills workshops
The Massachusetts Department of Correction is seeking to expand its successful volunteer facilitated, evidence-based cognitive skill workshop program. There are currently seven lesson plans available in the program: Active Listening, Problem Solving, Setting Goals, Assertive Communication, Negotiating, Asking for Help and Using Self Control. Each lesson is 90 minutes and there are two classes to a skill set. Training is available.

If you are interested in this volunteer opportunity, please contact Bill Milhomme, Director of Volunteer Services, at 508-620-6437, ext. 104, or, via e-mail, at wtmilhomme@doc.state.ma.us.

4) Provide math tutoring at the Pondville Correctional Center
The Massachusetts Department of Correction is seeking an individual(s) to provide math tutoring services for 6–10 incarcerated men at the Pondville Correctional Center. Pondville Correctional Center is a minimum security correctional facility located in Norfolk Massachusetts.

Results from an academic assessment (TABE test) as well as GED test results will be made available to the tutor(s) in order to begin remedial work at the appropriate level. Most of the students in need of tutorial services have attained a total passing score for the test battery and have successfully completed all of the GED subtests except for mathematics. Therefore the students must achieve a passing score on the mathematics subtest in order to receive their high school equivalency diploma. The most common math skills that need to be addressed in the tutorial sessions are: fractions, ratio and proportion, basic algebra, basic geometry, chart and graph interpretation and word problems.

If you are interested in this volunteer opportunity, please contact Bill Milhomme, Director of Volunteer Services, at 508-620-6437, ext. 104, or, via e-mail, at wtmilhomme@doc.state.ma.us.

First posted on September 8, 2010

Local consumer program seeks volunteers

Are you aware of your consumer rights? Do you know what to do if your identity is stolen? Can you spot an Internet or telemarketing scam? Would you like to help others learn about what they can do to protect themselves as consumers?

The New Bedford Local Consumer Program, working in cooperation with the Commonwealth of Massachusetts Office of the Attorney General, assists residents in the Southeastern MA region by offering free mediation services for consumer complaints and providing information on consumer protection laws.

The New Bedford LCP is currently seeking people interested in becoming volunteer mediators a minimum of four hours per week in the following locations:

• Taunton
• New Bedford
• North Attleboro
• Wareham

Training will be provided. For more information, contact Mali Lim at 508-961-3020 or consumer@newbedford-ma.gov.

First posted on August 11, 2010

School on Wheels of Massachusetts seeking tutors for homeless children

School on Wheels is a non-profit organization with a mission to educate children impacted by homelessness by providing academic support and one-on-one mentoring so they can reach their full potential. Students pre-K through grade 12 living at our partner shelter sites are matched with a tutor who meets with them for one hour per week to work on homework and academic skills. For more information on our organization, please visit http://www.sowma.org .

We currently need tutors in the following cities:

• Brockton
• Stoughton
• Middleboro
• New Bedford
• Peabody

For more information, interested volunteers can contact Joanna Channell, Program Director, at Joanna@sowma.org or 508-587-9091.

First posted on February 4, 2010

The Wingate at Needham is currently looking for volunteers

Wingate is dedicated to the belief that everyone deserves a life of grace and dignity regardless of age or physical condition. Residents recently requested guest speakers to educate them in current matters including science and new technology. Our residents range in age from 70s to 100s. Sessions could last one hour and we are flexible with days and times.

To learn more you can contact Alison Cox at 781-455-9090 x5239 or acox@wingatehealthcare.com.

First posted on September 21, 2009

Elementary After School Tutors

The Wellesley METCO Program is looking for tutors who are interested in working with a group of wonderful elementary students in the areas of mathematics. This program will run from approximately 12:00-3:30 p.m. on Wednesdays and aims to provide lessons related to solidifying basic skills, creating mathematical thinkers, challenging students, and the extension of current classroom concepts. Some social time and fun activities will be included, and tutors will have the opportunity to shape that time and those activities in the name of connecting with children and sharing interests.

The students are children of color participating in a voluntary desegregation program aimed at infusing diversity into suburban school districts. Tutors should feel comfortable, and excited about, managing a group of third, fourth, or fifth grade students and covering basic math skills, as well as mathematical comprehension, vocabulary, and test taking strategies (identifying useful information in questions and reading, finding and utilizing key vocabulary, underlining/highlighting, showing work, etc). Volunteers will work one-on-one or with small groups of students to reinforce basic skills. It is our hope that these efforts begin to eliminate the academic achievement gap between students of color and white students at the elementary level. Please contact: Kalise Jacobs, K-12 METCO Director, 781-446-6250 x4524.

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