Elizabeth, the Programs VISTA here. I’m crashing the TAP blog (well, not really– I was invited to write this post, but crashing sounds way more exciting) to let you know that the programming office is gearing up for the 2010-2011 school year and we’re SO EXCITED we can hardly wait for next week, when our fall after school classes start up. This week, we’ve been finalizing school contracts, tweaking curricula, dusting off library books and craft supplies, and, best of all, holding training for all of our teaching artists (TAs).
TAs are at the heart of what we do at TAP after school. Not only do they do the actual work of teaching our after school classes, but their energy and creativity are vital to the culture of our office. This week’s training has revealed that we have succeeded in hiring yet another incredibly talented group of TAs: they’re actors, playwrights, visual artists, musicians, dancers, and filmmakers, and their enthusiasm has been positively infectious.
Are you jealous that my job entails hanging out with such excellent people? Do you have afternoon availability? Then consider becoming an after school volunteer! Our after school volunteers spend one afternoon a week (usually from 3:00ish- 6:00ish) working closely with a TA in a classroom in or around Austin. Volunteers model student behavior, act as extra eyes and hands in the classroom, and (depending on the class) help out with special projects like building sets for plays or filming a video. We are especially in need of volunteers in Del Valle and Manor, but we’d love to have you regardless of where you’d like to be placed. Absolutely no theatre or arts skills required.
Contact me, Elizabeth, at elizabeth@theatreactionproject.org or 442.8773 if you’d like to hear more about volunteering with TAP after school.