With the new school year in full swing, teachers and students alike have returned to their classrooms to tackle new learning opportunities and objectives. Unfortunately, not all students return to school with a backpack of supplies as full as the curriculum plans that await them. 

That’s where you can come and help. Whether you’re a student, teacher, parent, alumni, or simply someone who cares about the future of Nebraska, you can help support public schools.

It can be simple classroom supplies, a small amount your time, a monetary donation to a school’s emergency fund or to a nonprofit that supports local schools in need, contributing to our schools will help keep students ready and able to learn throughout this school year.

Here are 10 ways to get involved today.

All kids need positive adult role models in their lives – and that’s why mentoring becomes so important. Many schools have partnerships with programs that match volunteers with students. Check out a few of our favorites and get involved today. 

• TeamMates Mentoring 
• Midlands Mentoring Partnership
• Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Midlands

From selling tickets to working concessions, your school is always looking for volunteers at events. Call the office at your neighborhood school to find out where you can help this year. 

If you’re a parent, become an active member of the school’s PTA or PTO. Volunteer as a ​“room parent” or find other ways to help support your child’s school events and programs. Ask your child’s teacher and principal about other ways you can be involved. 

Schools are being asked to do more and more for students today and they need help in different ways. 

Teachers can always use more supplies for their classrooms. In general, schools, especially at the elementary level, can always use extra clothing in the winter and for the nurse’s office. Warm jackets, hats, gloves, shoes, and lightly used clothes are always in high demand. Call the office at your school to see where donations can help the most. Add a few classroom items to your cart next time you go shopping. 

Many school districts have open school board meetings. Whether it’s to better understand, ​“where my tax dollars go,” or to learn why public schools support students and families, or to illustrate a glimpse of day-to-day realities of public schools, the information shared in these meetings helps provide context to what’s happening in and around your school community.

When it comes to what’s going on in public schools, teachers, principals and school administrators are the go-to source. They’re the ones in buildings. They see the growth in students, they see the challenges and successes schools experience and they see firsthand the results of the decisions that impact public schools.
 
The next best voice in public education is the voice of local education reporters, those who keep a keen eye on the happenings of schools in our community and connect the dots to the bigger story of public education in the state.

Share your passion with students. Many schools give their students an opportunity to see career options available in their community. 

Whether you’re a graphic designer, pastry chef, construction manager, marketing professional, homemaker, skateboarder or lawyer, we all have skills that we could share with a school in our community. Make a call to a school and learn how you can help.

Know of something awesome going on at a public school in your community? Tell the story of your school and your community on our stories page for a chance to be featured.

Raise awareness about the good things happening in public schools every day both on- and off-line. 

Whether you can drop by once a week, once a month, or once in awhile, ask your local school what they could do if they had more time or more hands on deck. Here are some ideas about how to get started: 

• Tour a school in your neighborhood. Showing interest in what’s going on at the school lets students, teachers and administrators know the community is behind them.
• Write a thank you note. Take a minute and show your appreciation for our teachers.
• Tutor a student. Use your talents to help students develop theirs.

Show your support for public schools and give back at the same time by fundraising with our I Love Public Schools shirts!