Volunteer Right In Your Own Workplace by Inspiring
a Middle School Student in Their Dream Job!!


Congregation Emanu-El partners with Spark, which matches students with one-on-one apprenticeships in professions of their choice at local workplaces, and complements this with a rigorous leadership development curriculum.

What is required? Take on a middle-school Apprentice who dreams of working in your profession and help students to re-engage in education by learning about a dream career! Students come to you for their apprenticeship, getting real-world, hands-on experience in your field.

Recruiting for the fall session is now! October thru December, 1 x each week for ONLY 9 weeks in the late afternoon. Scheduling is flexible!

Contact Spark at volunteer@sparkprogram.org or (415) 626-5470 x111 with questions or to sign up! Spark Volunteers receive comprehensive training and support, free marketing on Spark’s website, and many opportunities.?

Inspire a Student by Volunteering as a
Spark Apprentice Teacher!


Spark ’s mission is to inspire middle school youth to pursue their interests, create bonds with their communities, and develop a life-long passion for learning. Spark matches students with one-on-one apprenticeships in professions of their choice at local workplaces, and complements this with a rigorous leadership development curriculum.
Volunteers receive comprehensive training and support, free marketing on Spark’s website, and many opportunities to network with others in the community. Can’t volunteer as an Apprentice Teacher?

Spark has many other opportunities for you to be involved! Volunteer at Spark’s office or at a Spark event. Sponsor a Student Apprenticeship through Spark’s website. Go to www.sparkprogram.org and click on

For more information email us at volunteer@sparkprogram.org or call at
(415) 626-5470 x111.

From Erica Eshoo, Congregation Emanu-El
Member and Spark Apprentice Teachers

I have been a member of Temple Emanu-El since I was a child. Today, I work in orthopedics as a nurse practitioner at San Francisco General Hospital. Nurse practitioners are registered nurses with a master's degree and advanced training.

I love my job; I love teaching, and I love being around youth. That’s why I became so excited when I heard about Spark! I thought, "Wow, what a perfect way to inspire, motivate, and educate a middle school student while steering them towards their "dream" job! I inquired, submitted my information, and was selected to be a part of this amazing group of Apprentice Teachers.

I had a very positive experience with my dear student, Gloria. Meetings were weekly for six weeks, on Mondays after school and Gloria came to my hospital. We spent about 2 hours together. I showed her the ropes of nursing, talked shop, grossed her out, and just became her wise, older, yet cool, friend.
Part of the Apprentice Teacher experience with the students is coming up with a project for Discovery Night, which is when students present their final projects -- something they've created along with their Apprentice Teacher -- and teach what they've learned back to the community. The experience was manageable and rewarding. A few hours a week is nothing in influencing our future generation in excelling themselves and setting goals in life. Gloria and I still keep in touch. Sometimes I think I learned more from her.

Please feel free to contact me with any questions you may have! Erica Eshoo erica.eshoo@sfdph.org Sign up now to be an Apprentice Teacher with Spark beginning in March. Email us at volunteer@sparkprogram.org or call (415) 626-5470 x111.