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Volunteer
One Person Can Make the Difference
Lend your time and talent to be a mentor, tutor or foundation volunteer. Our volunteers find that their time working with students is not only beneficial to them, but also a rewarding experience for the volunteers themselves.
Ways to Participate
There are 2 categories of volunteers who work through the OEF:
Assistive Volunteers – Work under the direction of a teacher and do not have unsupervised contact with students. For example: Homeroom parent, Classroom assistant
Independent Volunteers – Provide direct services to students under the supervision of a teacher and may have unsupervised contact with students. For example: Tutor, Mentor
There are 3 clearances required for all OEF Volunteers:
- Pennsylvania State Police – Criminal Records check
- Dept. of Public Welfare – Child Abuse check
- FBI Fingerprint Clearance
The Oxford Educational Foundation will pay any fees for clearances for all of our volunteers; clearances are valid for 5 years.
Classroom Volunteer
The OEF Volunteers are integral to both teachers and students. Volunteers help in the classroom on a regular or an occasional basis. Below are some examples of volunteer needs:
- Classroom aide
- Preparing teaching materials
- Providing bilingual help for students who may be struggling
- Library or clerical help
Tutor
The OEF provides tutors to supplement classroom learning at all levels. In addition to helping the students with subject matter, the tutor can become a role model and instill confidence. In order to assure the safety of our students, the Oxford Area School District requires clearances; the OEF will pay any fees.
Mentor
The OEF provides mentors to students of all ages. A Mentor does not assume the role of a teacher or parent; a mentor is an adult friend who fosters a one-on-one relationship with a student. Activities might include talking about the student’s interests or playing a learning game with younger students. Goals of the mentoring relationship include:
- Improving the student’s self-confidence
- Encouraging the student to do their best in the classroom
OEF Community Adults as Resources for Education (CARES)
OEF CARES is a database that has been created whereby people in our community can share their expertise and provide resources with teachers by email, phone, or a classroom visit. Teachers often have to cover a wide range of subject material, and their experience, research, and text books can provide a good foundation for their classroom presentations. There may be cases when additional information is sought. Members of the community have a wide range of education, work experience, and other interests. The Foundation seeks volunteers to be guest speakers and email pen-pals with teachers, similar to “phone a friend” on a popular game show. The goal is to help students make connections between careers and the classroom, thereby expanding their thinking beyond the classroom. People with specialized knowledge, experience, and skill can easily support the students in this manner.
The areas that can be helpful to the faculty include:
- Knowledge of science, mathematics, and engineering
- Experience in government
- Knowledge of local history
- Experience in the Armed Services
- Experience in travel to other parts of the U.S, and other countries
- Experience in written, visual arts, or performing arts
- Witness to or experience with significant historical events
- Unique collections
- Other specialized interests
The manner by which the knowledge and experience of community members is conveyed to a teacher will be determined by agreement of the community member and the teacher. Expected methods are telephone, email, or in person. In addition, the community member might deliver a classroom presentation.
This program is for contact between a community member and a teacher. It is not for unmonitored contact between a community member and students, therefore a background check of the community member is not required.
Senior Citizens
Seniors, ages 65 years old and older, can earn a tax credit for volunteering with OEF. Participants have the opportunity to accrue up to 100 hours of service in exchange for up to $650 after their current year taxes have been paid. Checks are mailed out by June thirtieth of each year.
Program Areas Needed:
- Art Assistant
- Classroom Aide
- Clerical Assistant
- Emeritus Maintenance
- Help
- Cafeteria Assistant
- Computer Assistant
- Library Assistant
- Music Assistant
Please Note: Applications are available at the Oxford Area School District Tax Office. In addition to the application all participants MUST submit and pass the request for a Federal Criminal History Record Check (Act 114), a PA State Criminal Background Check (Act 34) and a Child Abuse History Clearance (Act 151). The fees for clearances will be paid by the OEF for OEF volunteers.
The Oxford Area School District reserves the right to discontinue the Property Tax – Senior Citizen Volunteer Program at any time. Should this occur, participants will be given tax credit for their hours of service.
Please return applications to the Oxford Area School District Tax Office.



RSVP Award Winner 2021
Richard Herbert
At the conclusion of each school year, the Oxford Educational Foundation presents the annual Randy Sebastian Volunteer Person of the Year award (R.S.V.P). The R.S.V.P. is given to a volunteer, mentor, or tutor whose underlying values support the mission of the Oxford Educational Foundation.
Richard Herbert is the 2021 recipient of the Randy Sebastian Volunteer Person Award. He is a dedicated volunteer with the Oxford Educational Foundation mentoring program. Richard continues to mentor middle school students helping them to navigate their way to becoming young adults.


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