The volunteer coordinator performs functions that enable volunteers to strengthen academic achievement. These functions are 1) building volunteering awareness, 2) engaging volunteers, 3) building volunteer capacity.

Building Volunteer Awareness
The volunteer coordinator promotes the volunteer activities of the school to the community through the media and special events.
More importantly, the volunteer coordinator communicates to school staff about the role of volunteers and what volunteers are currently doing. She attends staff meetings periodically to look for ways volunteers can help with building issues, or to give feedback to staff about volunteer issues. She helps create an atmosphere of collaboration and trust between staff and volunteers as a communication link.

Engaging Volunteers
A volunteer coordinator targets the Shoreline area and publicizes volunteer opportunities. She is familiar with the neighborhood and surrounding community and able to find volunteer resources. She screens volunteers and keeps information so that volunteers can recieve communications on a regular basis. The volunteer coordinator advocates for the volunteers. She helps ensure that volunteers have appropriate working conditions and materials to do their work.

Building Volunteer Capacity
The volunteer coordinator works with the staff, the district and other agencies to provide training and other volunteer development. One resource for the volunteer coordinator is the Seattle Tutoring Coalition that provides high quality, free tutor training four times a year. The volunteer coordinator structures on-going support for volunteers, such as computer training that helps them work more effectively with students. She uses training to ensure that volunteers are highly qualified to work with students. She orients volunteers to the school building and to current district safety standards. (Fire drills, disaster preparedness, and lock downs) Volunteers are given guidelines and expectations for safe interaction with students. The volunteer coordinator keeps data on volunteers and periodically surveys volunteers and staff to assess needs.