Santa Fe Public Schools Expands Volunteer Program in Collaboration with the City of Santa Fe

Courtesy photo: Second graders at Chaparral Elementary engage with volunteer Bruce Turnquist while reading a Magic Treehouse book at a weekly tutoring session.

Joining forces to grow volunteerism, support students, and strengthen community ties

By Tara Melton

To demonstrate the impact of what can be accomplished through local collaboration, Santa Fe Public Schools (SFPS) and the City of Santa Fe’s Office of Economic Development have combined resources to expand and enhance the SFPS volunteer program. This partnership reflects a unified vision centered on student success, lifelong learning, and building a stronger, more connected community.

Through a generous investment from the city, SFPS has been able to hire contracted staff to significantly increase the capacity of its volunteer program. With this added support, SFPS can now implement the SFPS Volunteer Program 2024–2027 Strategic Plan by strengthening infrastructure to support and match community volunteers with roles that best suit their interests, schedules, and areas of expertise.

These combined resources enable the expansion of several key initiatives, including the creation of volunteer District committees, school site volunteer teams, and operational support for the Help U Homework Hotline—a free, virtual tutoring program that connects SFPS students with volunteer tutors for academic support across a range of subjects. The hotline has proven particularly valuable for students who may need flexible, one-on-one support beyond the traditional classroom setting and allows a virtual platform for students who aren’t able to stay after school due to transportation obstacles. In addition, the volunteer program has expanded onboarding and support systems for both new and returning volunteers, making the experience more accessible and rewarding for all involved.

“This collaboration with the City of Santa Fe has been a game-changer for our volunteer program,” said Sabra Romero, SFPS volunteer coordinator. “With this added support, we’ve been able to expand opportunities for community members to engage meaningfully with our students—whether that’s through virtual tutoring, school site and classroom assistance, or student mentorship. We’re seeing firsthand how volunteers with varied backgrounds are making a real difference in our schools. It’s about more than just helping in the classroom. It’s about building relationships that inspire learning and community connection.”

SFPS serves a student body with a diverse set of needs, and recognizes that academic achievement is often enhanced when students receive personalized attention by incorporating a whole-child approach. Volunteers are able to provide personalized care and attention to physical, mental, cognitive, and social-emotional well-being in addition to academic achievement.

In recent years, many school systems have faced challenges in maintaining robust volunteer programs due to legal administrative requirements, restricted budgets, the lasting impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic, or the evolving needs of students and families. This partnership aims to address these challenges head-on. By building the internal capacity to better manage, train, and support volunteers, SFPS can now more effectively engage a wider community range, including young adults, parents, family members, retirees, and professionals who may be seeking ways to give back or connect with local schools and children.

Adrian Martinez, a volunteer with SFPS, works on vocabulary with a fourth-grader at<br />
Chaparral Elementary

Courtesy photo: Adrian Martinez, a volunteer with SFPS, works on vocabulary with a fourth-grader at Chaparral Elementary.

“This investment in people and infrastructure allows us to meet volunteers where they are—whether that’s someone who can give an hour a week virtually or someone who wants to be present in a classroom several days a month,” Romero said. “Flexibility and purpose are key to successful recruitment and retention.”

One of the most inspiring examples of the program’s impact comes from a longtime volunteer, Dr. Julanna Gilbert, a retired post-secondary chemistry professor from the University of Denver. When Gilbert and her husband relocated to Santa Fe, they were both interested in contributing their gift of time to educational programs within their community.

Gilbert began offering her volunteer services in 2017 by supporting math teachers and students at Santa Fe High School during the school day. Since then she has supported the Services for Advanced and Gifted Education (SAGE) program as a career mentor, she has helped students virtually in math and science through the Help U Homework Hotline and most recently, she has supported Community School Coordinator, Tommy Rodriguez by tutoring at Santa Fe High School during the after school tutoring program at that school site. Students look forward to their time with Gilbert, and her experience and warmth have made her an invaluable addition to the learning environment.

“It is very rewarding to serve as a volunteer in the public schools here in Santa Fe,” Gilbert said. “I truly enjoy the opportunity to work with students. When a student tells me that they are stuck and don’t know how to do their homework, we work together to find a related topic that they do understand, and then to discover the missing link in their thinking. We both rejoice when they can connect with the new material.”

Gilbert’s story is just one of many that illustrate how the volunteer program is opening doors for intergenerational connections and deepening the ties between schools and the broader community.

The expansion of the SFPS volunteer program is not just an educational initiative—it’s a community development strategy. The Office of Economic Development sees the initiative as a natural extension of its mission to support workforce development and long-term prosperity in Santa Fe.

“Education and economic development go hand in hand—when we invest in our students, we invest in the future of Santa Fe,” said Johanna Nelson, the City of Santa Fe’s director for the Office of Economic Development. “By expanding volunteer capacity, this partnership helps provide students and teachers with the support they need while creating meaningful opportunities for community members to give back. We’re excited for this collaboration and hopeful it will have a positive impact on our schools and our community.”

The City’s investment is more than just financial—it’s symbolic of a city that recognizes the value of public education and the role that engaged citizens can play in shaping future generations.

Mayor Alan Webber also emphasized the long-term significance of this partnership. “Our partnership with Santa Fe Public Schools is essential for the future of our city,” Webber said. “Nothing is more important than the skills, learning, and life experiences of Santa Fe’s young people. Working together with SFPS, the City is committed to doing everything we can to invest in our youth, because learning and earning go hand in hand.”

Tanya Medrano, a Santa Fe High School graduate, stands with Dr. Julanna Gilbert during her commencement ceremony. Dr. Gilbert and Medrano collaborated on a computer-based project exploring the creation of art through reiterative mathematics.

Courtesy photo: Tanya Medrano, a Santa Fe High School graduate, stands with Dr. Julanna Gilbert during her commencement ceremony. Dr. Gilbert and Medrano collaborated on a computer-based project exploring the creation of art through reiterative mathematics.

Looking ahead, SFPS plans to continue growing its volunteer base while expanding program offerings to meet the evolving needs of students and educators. SFPS is exploring additional ways to leverage the talents of local artists, STEM professionals, bilingual volunteers, and other community members whose contributions can enhance classroom learning and the lives of our students.

SFPS also intends to track the program’s impact more closely—both quantitatively and qualitatively—through feedback from students, teachers, and volunteers. Early responses have already been overwhelmingly positive, with many teachers reporting improved student engagement and volunteers expressing a desire to continue long-term.

With the support of the City of Santa Fe, SFPS is not only enhancing educational outcomes but also weaving a stronger social fabric throughout the community. In classrooms, over video calls, and at school events, volunteers are making a tangible difference – one student, one conversation, and one act of kindness at a time.

If you’d like to support the SFPS community, please visit: sfps.info/page/volunteering-sfps

Tara Melton serves as the public information officer for Santa Fe Public Schools (SFPS), a district dedicated to educating approximately 11,000 students throughout the Santa Fe area. SFPS is committed to providing every student with a safe, high-quality, and engaging education—one that embraces diversity, promotes equity, and advances social justice. The district works in close partnership with the community to make the most of its collective resources. Learn more at sfps.info.