Volunteer Teacher’s Aide for Citizenship Classes (In Person)
Fall semester, 2025: September – December
Please note: Volunteers must be at least 18 years of age
Mission and Objective
In partnership with Marin County Free Library, the Canal Alliance Adult Education Program offers Citizenship classes that help students prepare to pass their United States Citizenship & Immigration Services (USCIS) naturalization interview and become U.S. citizens. Citizenship provides greater security and opportunities, and is a crucial step in helping eligible community members break the generational cycle of poverty. Citizenship allows immigrants the right to work, the right to vote, the ability to sponsor family members, access to public benefits, and provides safety from deportation.
Through the lens of empowering the whole person, the Adult Education program complements the wraparound services Canal Alliance provides so that very low-income, adult immigrants can improve their access to education, employment and entrepreneurial opportunities.
Program dates and class times
- Fall semester classes start the week of September 15 and end the week of December 8
- Aides assist in one class session per week (either Monday or Tuesday) from 6:45 to 8:30 pm
- Minimum volunteer commitment is one 13-week semester (or if you start partway through, then until the end of the semester)
Required Onboarding and Training for New Volunteers
- Sign volunteering paperwork
- Attend a general orientation/training session, date TBD
- Complete additional training specific to Citizenship volunteering, format and schedule TBD
Required Onboarding and Training for Returning Volunteers
- Sign 2025-26 Volunteer Agreement
- Complete training specific to Citizenship volunteering, format and schedule TBD
Aide Responsibilities
- Read and be familiar with content of relevant textbook chapter(s) and lesson plan before class
- Help the teacher establish the classroom as a safe place and provide a nurturing, supportive, and positive learning environment with high expectations for students
- Build positive, respectful relationships with students
- Meet with teacher briefly before class to go over lesson plan, if requested
- Help teacher set up classroom, distribute materials, etc. as needed
- Assist students individually or in small groups at direction of teacher
- Assist teacher with other tasks as assigned
- Monitor class and advise teacher of students who are struggling, or topics that need clarification
- Respect and follow program policies and teacher’s instructions
- Respond promptly to communications from teacher, team, and Adult Education staff
- Be culturally responsive and culturally humble in the classroom
- Honor trimester-long volunteer commitment
- Important: Citizenship aides MUST NOT offer any legal advice whatsoever to students, whether it has to do with citizenship or any other matter
Skills and Attributes
- Friendly, outgoing and adaptable; able to bring energy to the classroom
- Patient and attentive with students
- Enjoy interacting with people of all ages and ethnicities
- Able to build positive and respectful relationships with students, teachers and Adult Education staff
- Comfortable working with people of varied cultural and socio-economic backgrounds
- Proactive and able to work with minimal direction
- Knowledge of civics content (training will be provided)
- Knowledge of Spanish helpful but not required
Requirements
- Age 18 or above
- Alignment with Canal Alliance’s mission and Adult Education program goals
- Commitment to assist in one Citizenship class per week
- Commitment to assist for at least one trimester, with minimal absences
- Completion of onboarding and training listed above
- Commitment to cultural responsiveness and cultural humility
- Full proficiency in English (native speaker or near-native ability, ILR Level 4 or above)
To Apply
Please contact Ivonne Molina, Stewardship and Engagement Manager, at ivonnem@canalalliance.org
