The Bay School depends on a dedicated group of volunteers for many aspects of operation. Bay School volunteers organize and host special events, do routine office work, and are on-call for many other special tasks.

A volunteer email newsletter is sent once a month to these enthusiastic helpmates to keep them informed. Three times a year, we hold volunteer appreciation events that in addition to tasty food potluck style, involve raffle drawings and recognition awards. 

Here are just a few highlights from recent celebrations!

2024 Volunteer Appreciation Holiday Potluck – Bay School Community Arts Center

The Bay School Volunteers' Taco Dinner – Bay School Community Arts Center

The volunteer community at The Bay School is a lively and dedicated group of fun individuals. If you'd like to join us for friendship, camaraderie, and a shared love of the arts, contact Jennifer at jenschroeder@bayschool-arts.com

2023-24 Volunteer Awards

Joyce Meier Pully

Voted Best Volunteer 2023

Joyce was born and raised in Iowa in a creative family.  Her two sisters and she would spend hours drawing and coloring their own paper dolls. She experiments with many media and loves being around artists, galleries, and studios where people create wonderful things. Being retired, she immerses herself in all things creative and recently completed the Virginia Master Naturalist Class.  She enjoys being outside watching and counting birds and butterflies and reading British detective mysteries.

For over ten years, Joyce has been taking classes at The Bay School. She relishes learning new and fun things and has taken classes in mixed media, felting and fiber arts, oil painting, watercolors, alcohol ink, and all sorts of pottery, metal, jewelry, and glass workshops.  Laughing, she says, "I consider myself a "classaholic."  I'd take every class if I could!"

Joyce has long been one of our most active and devoted volunteers and both staff and her fellow volunteers are inspired by her involvement.  Reflecting upon this, she says, "Volunteering at The Bay School is a great way to meet like-minded people, and it is so much fun! Helping hang a new show is a great way to see all the artwork firsthand! I enjoy baking, so when refreshments are needed, I get busy.  I love helping with the food at receptions and teas.  The Bay School is a huge part of what makes Mathews so special!"

Peggy Shifflett

2024 Volunteer of the Year
(Signed up for 71 tasks during 2024)

Peggy has been a painter all her life, stained glass artist for ten years, and a potter since 2016. Her recent work incorporates her painting into her ceramic and sculptural pieces. In addition to being a very active volunteer at The Bay School, she serves as a Pottery Studio Technician, sharing her creative insights and skills with our students and artists.

Peggy began her art career in billboard design for ad campaigns, attended TAD Tech for drafting, and was the graphic designer/draftsperson for the City of Richmond for 15 years. After retiring in 2022, she discovered The Bay School. Showing her enthusiasm, Peggy says, “The Bay School feels like it is my “home.” I enjoy every minute of my time here and hope to continue for many years!”