Volunteer of the week Sherry Bruckner, 35, of Niles, volunteers in various capacities at Niles Community Schools.

Q: Where do you volunteer?

I volunteer at Ballard [Elementary] and Oak Manor [Sixth Grade Center]. I started volunteering about eight years ago when my daughter began attending Ballard.

Q: What do you do as a volunteer?

It depends on which school I’m at. When I’m at Oak Manor I help out with the power hour they are doing there on Fridays. There are quite a few parents in helping. They’ve broken kids up into groups based on their NWEA scores and we just help out the teachers in any way they need. For instance, I help out with math. That is every Friday for about an hour and a half. I help out Wednesday afternoon with a math class also when they do study island.

At Ballard, I will help out with just about anything, whatever the teachers need me to do from helping put a bulletin board together to practicing spelling words with the kids. I’ll do whatever they need me to do. I can be at Ballard just about every day. I would say I’m there three to four times a week helping out most of the school day.

Q: How did you get started as a volunteer?

I guess when my daughter was in kindergarten I started helping out a couple days a week in that class because I wanted to know what was going on in the school and what she was learning.

Now, with all my kids in school, I get bored when I’m at home. I thought this was a good way to keep up with what’s going on at school and make sure everything runs smoothly for my kids.

Q: What do you enjoy about it?

When I’m at the elementary school the kids light up when they see you. I get hugs from them, so I know I am making a difference in their lives. Over at Oak Manor with math, when the kids pass something on study island I enjoy seeing their eyes light up and give them a high five knowing I made a difference in their lives too. That’s the best part of it.

Q: Why is it important to volunteer?

I think it’s important to give back to the community. The Niles schools have been great for my kids so I just want to help out any way I can.

 

Do you know an outstanding volunteer who deserves recognition? Nominate him or her by calling Craig Haupert, community editor, at (269) 687-7720, or by emailing him at craig.haupert@leaderpub.com.