Sharing Inspiration Volunteer Program

Thank you for your interest in volunteering with Eden Prairie Schools through Community Education's districtwide program! We are passionate about partnering with volunteers to enhance student learning and help us accomplish our mission and district strategies. Below is an overview of the placement process.

Step 1: All volunteers should first complete a volunteer application. Submitting an application does not guarantee a volunteer placement with Eden Prairie Schools.

Step 2: The Outreach and Engagement Supervisor will then contact you via email to share current opportunities and the links to complete the remaining next steps. This usually happens within 2 business days of submitting your application, but may take up to 7.

Step 3: All volunteers must watch an orientation video and complete a corresponding quiz. This typically takes 15-20 minutes and is updated annually. If necessary, you will also receive directions to complete a background check through Trusted Employees, the district's background check vendor. The amount of time it takes to complete this step mostly depends on how quickly the volunteer responds. Some volunteers prefer to wait until placement in the desired role has been arranged. Others prefer to complete these steps right away to ensure they are ready to volunteer as soon as an opportunity becomes available. Once a volunteer has submitted the requested information to Trusted Employees, the background check is typically completed within 48 hours, but may take longer if you have lived out of the state or country.

Step 4 (only if a background check is required): Once Trusted Employees has completed the background check, Human Resources is notified of the results. Once approved by Human Resources and Community Ed, the Sharing Inspiration Volunteer Program staff are notified, which happens in real time.

Step 5: After the volunteer has completed all of the required steps (watched the video, completed the quiz, and potentially passed a background check), the volunteer will be placed on an "approved list of volunteers." If a position has already been identified, the Outreach and Engagement Supervisor will reach out to you via email to confirm your completion. If not, the volunteer will remain on the "approved volunteer list" until an opportunity becomes available.

Step 6: The district host will provide additional onboarding or training tailored to the role in which you've been placed.

Additional Information About Background Checks

Background checks are required for most positions for new volunteers or those for whom it has been more than a year since you last volunteered through the Sharing Inspiration Volunteer Program. This includes, but is not limited to the following volunteer roles:

• Classroom Volunteer
• Field Trip Chaperone
• Homework Helper/One-on-one Tutor and Mentor
• Media Center Volunteer
• Playground Volunteer
• Eagle Nation Station Volunteer

These are examples of positions that do not require a background check, assuming the volunteer will never be without supervision of a district employee:

• Guest Speaker
• Lunchroom Volunteer
• Special Classroom Event Volunteer
• Other Select Special Event Volunteer

There is a $21 fee to complete the background check. We offer financial assistance and reimbursement to ensure the fee is not a barrier to volunteering. Once you complete a background check through Trusted Employees, you will not be required to complete an additional one as long as you volunteer once per year.

Unfortunately, we cannot accept background checks that have been completed by other entities, such as a youth sports association, as every entity has their own set of specific checks and varying thresholds for what is approved.

Current Eden Prairie Schools students and current employees do not need to complete background checks.

Eagle Nation Station! 

Eden Prairie High School is looking for volunteers to fill shifts at the Eagle Nation Station located at the high school. Volunteers will man the store, organize, update inventory, and help students and families find supplies and items.

If you are interested please sign up for a volunteer shift HERE. An Eden Prairie High School staff will provide onsite details, information and training. Completing the volunteer process is mandatory for this position. 

If you have any questions please contact via email. 

Eagles Homework Help & Tutoring Program! 

Eden Prairie Schools Community Education's Eagles Homework Help & Tutoring Program is looking for committed tutors to help provide additional academic assistance to students grades K-12th Grade. Sessions start October 5th, 2023 and are Thursday evenings from 6:00 pm - 8:00 pm. If you are interested in being a tutor, please complete the Tutor Inventory Form, and we will be in touch. 

If you have any questions please contact via email. 

Weekend Food for Kids Community Education Distribution! 

Eden Prairie Schools Community Education's Weekend Food for Kids is looking for volunteers to run food distribution on Thursday evenings from 3:45 pm - 6:00 pm. The distribution takes place at the Historic Gym and will start on Thursday, September 7th, 2023 until June 6th, 2024. If you are interested you can sign-up for shifts HERE.

If you have any questions please contact via email. 

Early Childhood Family Education Saturday Daddy & Me Classes!

Eden Prairie Schools Community Educations ECFE Program is looking for volunteers to help with their Saturday Daddy & Me Classes from 9:15 am - 11:30 am. The classes take place at the Community Education/Little Eagles Building. We would like for volunteers to commit to more than one of the following dates: 9/9, 9/16, 9/23, 9/30, 10/7, 10/28, 11/4, 11/18, 12/2, 12/9. If you are interested, please contact via email. 

Early Childhood Family Education Tuesday Evening Movers & Shakers Classes!

Eden Prairie Schools Community Educations ECFE Program is looking for volunteers to help with their Tuesday evening Mover & Shakers Classes from 4:30 pm - 5:45 pm (opportunity for longer volunteer sessions if interested). The classes take place at the Community Education/Little Eagles Building. We would like for volunteers to commit to more than one of the following dates: 9/12, 9/19, 9/26, 10/3, 10/10, 10/17, 10/24, 10/31, 11/7, 11/14 . If you are interested, please contact via email. 

Oak Point/Eagle Heights Spanish Immersion Media Center! 

The Oak Point/Eagle Heights Spanish Immersion Media Center staff will be needing volunteers throughout the 2023-2024 school year. They have a variety of volunteers roles, such as: shelving, laminating, library projects and more. To find a time that works best with your schedule click this link or email with any questions. You can also sign-up to volunteer for the Fall Book Fair. 

Forest Hills Book Fair! 

Interested in giving your time for the Forest Hills Elementary Book Fair? There is a variety of times and roles to select on the sign-up link. Sign-up to volunteer for the Fall Book Fair. If you have any questions you can email. 

English Volunteer Handbook

Spanish volunteer handbook

Somali Volunteer Handbook

Request a Volunteer for Your Classroom

This district-wide program coordinated by Community Education aims to connect community members to a quality, meaningful volunteer experience within Eden Prairie Schools while providing additional individual and small group support in the classroom. We invite teachers and other staff to request a volunteer based on their specific needs and desired volunteer schedule.

The Community Education staff recruits and assigns volunteers based on interests, skills, and availability. They also coordinate background checks, provide orientation (including review of important policies and procedures around confidentiality, mandated reporting, appropriate volunteer behavior, etc.), and building tours. The Volunteer Program staff also provides ongoing support and training opportunities to the volunteers and serves as a liaison between the staff host and the volunteer. All placements are approved by principals. This overview document provides more details on the process.

If you are interested in hosting a volunteer, please submit the brief request form linked below. You are welcome to complete the survey at any time during the school year. Volunteers are placed on a first come, first served basis.

Become a Sharing Inspiration Guest Speaker

We believe EACH person has individual gifts, interests and talents. We seek to provide opportunities for community members to share theirs with our students. Eden Prairie Schools Community Education is passionate about incorporating volunteers into our classrooms and programs, including guest speakers. Teachers from across the district invite experts on specific topics into classrooms to share inspiration with students. Guest speakers with a variety of backgrounds and life experiences enhance student learning by sharing their knowledge and stories, helping students draw connections between curriculum and the real world.  

If you are knowledgeable about a particular topic and have a desire to present to students, we invite you to complete a Sharing Inspiration Guest Speaker Profile. Profiles are shared with district staff, and should there be a matching request from a teacher, you will be invited to share your passion and expertise with students.

Complete a Sharing Inspiration Guest Speaker Profile now