Are You A Williams Student Wanting To Get Involved In Local Education?
Local Opportunities
Opportunities to work with kids in the local communities, both volunteer and work study.
Williams College Elementary Outreach Program
The Elementary Education Outreach Program brings Williams students into K-5 classrooms at Williamstown Elementary (short walk from campus), or at Pine Cobble School (~2 minute drive) or in North Adams at Brayton Elementary (~6 minute drive), or Greylock Elementary (~5 minute drive). Depending on your style and preference, you will be paired with a teacher and gain experience in the classroom either by bringing prepared science units (materials provided) into the classroom and teaching from the prepared unit (usually with another Williams student partner). Involves weekly commitment of 2.5-5 hours/week for one or both semesters. For info, placement and help with transportation, contact Elementary Outreach Coordinator, Jennifer Swoap at jswoap@williams.edu
Teach In New York City (Winter Study)
Tracy Finnegan leads a winter study course in which Williams students work closely with a mentor teacher at a New York City school. This gives you an idea of what it would be like to teach in an urban setting. More »
Volunteer Opportunities
Volunteering is a good way to try helping out in the schools to see if you might like to get a job at some point with elementary outreach. With volunteering, you can choose to do this without the level of teaching responsibility and time commitment required by a position with elementary outreach. Of course, reliability is still very important. Maybe you want to try helping with a specific subject, or specific age level, or want to help but know you will only be available a few times over the semester. Maybe you’d like to help out once a week, but don’t feel comfortable actually teaching science lessons, and just want to assist the classroom teacher.
If you’d like to get involved helping out in the North Adams schools, you can contact Liz Urban, the volunteer coordinator, to see what the current needs are in the schools, or to offer to help within your availability/interests:
Liz Urban
North Adams Public Schools
District Volunteer Coordinator
413-664-7512
eurban@napsk12.org
Williams Center At Mt Greylock High School
The Williams Center at Mt Greylock High School is run by Kaatje White.
Many, many types of opportunities exist for getting involved with middle or high school education. From one-time volunteering for a few hours at a fun event, to helping kids with homework regularly after school, check the website to read about all that is going on through the Williams Center at Mt Greylock: Williams Center at Mt Greylock Middle and High School
Williams College Program In Teaching
Psychology professor Susan Engel is the director of the Williams College Program in Teaching. This is a great path for you if you would like to pursue a career in teaching. Combined with classes here at Williams, students gain classroom experience through practicum hours for course credit. For more information, see the Williams College Program in Teaching Website
