Leading by example: Learning Leaders

Talking about 'giving back' is easy -- yet too often, between the talking and the doing lies a deep gulf of good intentions. But volunteering doesn't have to mean giving up a career or sacrificing your home life; New York City's long-established school volunteer program, Learning Leaders, asks for a minimum commitment of only two hours a week (although if you have more time, there's plenty of work to be done).

Learning Leaders brings adult volunteers into about 850 city schools, working with students, teachers, and administrators to improve instruction, explore the arts, build relationships with kids, and generally help schools run better. Although most volunteers work in grade schools -- where 12,000 volunteers work with more than 200,000 students -- there are opportunities to help out at every level. Right now, Learning Leaders is seeking tutors for high-schoolers prepping for spring Regents exams and for extra help in middle-school summer programs.

Volunteers don't just drift in off the street: Formal applications include three professional references, and potential volunteers attend specific training sessions to work with elementary, middle, and high-school aged children. There are even opportunities for volunteers who sign -- provided they can complete an interview via American Sign Language.

This week is Great School Volunteer Weekin New York City; attend a Learning Leaders midday orientation sessionto learn more.