Bridge the Gap College Prep 

Download Volunteer Details

Contact Person:
Cat Tong, Volunteer Coordinator

Email:
cattong@btgcollegeprep.org

Phone:
703-966-0582

The mission of Bridge the Gap is to provide comprehensive educational, social and emotional resources to underserved students in Marin County. Our goal is to ensure that all students graduate high school and achieve their greatest potential through college completion or other pathways to economic sustainability and independence.

Mission Statement:

Describe the Tutoring or Mentoring Opportunity

We are excited to share tutoring opportunities for the upcoming school year through Bridge the Gap’s High School Program:

Tamalpais High School (Afterschool, 4–6 PM, Monday–Friday):

  • Math, Biology, and Chemistry Tutors: 1 of each per day in each subject

  • Writing Tutors: Available daily

  • Spanish Tutors: 1–2 times per week

  • We welcome support to provide weekly lunch for our students

Tomales High School

  • More tutors are needed for all subjects (Math, English, Science, Social Studies).

  • For afterschool tutoring, an additional math tutor is needed to support the current math tutor. Math is the subject where the majority of students need help.

We are excited to share tutoring opportunities for the upcoming school year through Bridge the Gap’s Elementary School Program at MLK Academy (TK-8th Grade):

  • Homework and Tutoring Support program. Volunteers will work one-on-one or in small groups with students to provide academic assistance and encouragement.

  • Because this role involves engaging directly with elementary students, volunteers should feel comfortable with the energy levels of young children, which may include running around, needing reminders to listen, and occasionally wandering off. To participate effectively, volunteers should be reasonably mobile and able to commit to at least 1–2 hours of service per week on campus.

This is a wonderful opportunity to make a meaningful difference in the lives of young learners while building positive connections across generations.

Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Academy (Nevada Campus)
636 Nevada Street
Sausalito, CA 94965

Tamalpais High School
700 Miller Avenue
Mill Valley, CA 94941

Tomales High School
3850 Irvin Lane
Tomales, CA 94971

Where does the interaction take place?

Volunteer Parameters

1. Are there any special requirements regarding age, health, mobility of volunteers? 
A reasonable level of health and mobility is important to ensure you can actively engage and be present while working one-on-one with students. If you have any physical limitations, please still reach out, there may be ways we can support you to participate effectively.

a. Fingerprints: Yes 

b. TB Test: Yes 

c. Background check: Livescan (same as fingerprinting) 

d. Interview: Yes

e. Other: We ask that all volunteers complete our onboarding paperwork including reading and signing the Volunteer Handbook and Waiver. We also ask that all volunteers review the Marin History & Context presentation we provide

2. Does your vetting of volunteers include: 

3. Do your volunteers need to be bilingual? How helpful would it be if they were? 
No, volunteers do not need to be bilingual. Sometimes, knowledge of the spanish language is useful but not required.

4. Is the volunteer opportunity episodic or continuous?
Continuous for at least a full semester.

We also offer one-time volunteer opportunities at our seasonal festivals. Volunteers typically help run a station for about 30-45 minutes, providing their own activity and supplies. Activities vary depending on the time of year, so we encourage interested volunteers to reach out for more details.

5. What is the time commitment?
At least once a week for a full semester but program needs vary based on our needs throughout the school year.

For occasional one-time events, we need volunteers to stay for the duration of their committed time slot or activity.

6. When does the opportunity begin and when does it end, i.e. is it tied to the academic school calendar?
Fall (August/September - Early December). Spring (Late January - Early June).

7. Do you provide training for your volunteers?
We usually have an orientation for working with Elementary School students, however, for the HS program, we may only ask for check-ins for all adult volunteers with the program director who will direct activities 

8. Do you utilize teen volunteers? Would you if they were available?
While most of our volunteers are teenagers at MLK Academy (K-8 program), all volunteers at High School programs must be high school graduates.

How many volunteers does your organization currently utilize? 

We have roughly about 75-80 volunteers across all of our programs.

How many more would you need to have full capacity? 

We recruit volunteers throughout the school year so currently the amount of volunteers we asked for mentioned above is the current amount of openings we have available.

Would you increase your volunteer offerings programmatically if you had more volunteers?

We truly value the dedication of our volunteers, and while we always welcome additional support, we currently do not plan to expand our volunteer offerings programmatically. Our focus remains on maintaining the quality and sustainability of our existing programs.

What would you like potential volunteers to know in addition to the above? 

  • High School Volunteers should be comfortable working with teenagers and understand that high school students can have varying levels of maturity and energy. Patience, flexibility, and a positive attitude go a long way.

  • Volunteers working with K–8 students should be prepared for the higher energy levels and shorter attention spans typical of younger children. It’s important to bring creativity, enthusiasm, and the ability to adapt activities to keep students engaged.

  • Clear communication and a supportive attitude help build trust and create a positive learning environment. Volunteers should also feel comfortable following classroom routines and guidance from program leaders to ensure a structured and safe experience for all students.

  • Being reliable and consistent is important, as many students look forward to the support and connection volunteers provide.

  • Volunteers should be prepared to engage actively, whether it’s helping with activities, listening, or offering encouragement, and be ready to adapt to different situations.

  • Good communication skills and a respectful, non-judgmental approach are essential to build trust and rapport with students.

  • There may be times when our students face challenges or sensitive issues; volunteers should be compassionate and know when to seek guidance from staff.