AmeriCorps Literacy Lead (2022), Charleston, SC
Reading Partners is a national literacy nonprofit that engages community volunteers and AmeriCorps service members to support elementary-aged students on their path toward reading proficiency. Our dedicated volunteers come from diverse backgrounds and life experiences and provide bi-weekly one-on-one tutoring to students, either in person or through our new online tutoring system. Our traditional, in-person program is proven to help children master the reading fundamentals necessary to become confident learners across all subjects. In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, Reading Partners urgently evolved program delivery to ensure students continue to receive the critical literacy tutoring in any learning environment. Our people are the heart and soul of our organization; we are all passionately engaged in a common mission to help all children become confident, lifelong learners. Reading Partners is also committed to building a culturally competent and representative team to advance social justice through our service in schools and communities. In joining Reading Partners, you'll be part of a stellar team leading the charge to pursue equity in education and expand a research-validated literacy program that works. Join Reading Partners and leave a legacy in schools and communities that will last long beyond an unforgettable and life-changing term of service. Learn more about us at readingpartners.org.
AmeriCorps engages more than 80,000 Americans in intensive service each year at nonprofits, schools, public agencies, and community and faith-based groups across the country. Since the program’s founding in 1994, over 1 million AmeriCorps members have contributed more than 1.4 billion hours in service across America while tackling pressing problems and mobilizing more than 2.3 million volunteers for the organizations they serve.
At Reading Partners we have the opportunity to mobilize 350 AmeriCorps members to serve in various positions across the country. This AmeriCorps service opportunity is supporting and implementing the Reading Partners mission while at the same time exemplifying the AmeriCorps motto of “getting things done.” Reading Partners strives to recruit AmeriCorps members dedicated to a year of service in the community. Read on for more details about our service opportunities!
Additional Information
- All AmeriCorps members, regardless of role, will conduct or perform the essential functions of this role in schools and/or in designated locations where programming may be delivered, such as a Reading Partners regional office or another Reading Partners-approved location where volunteers may be convened to tutor students using our remote tutoring system, unless when under shelter in place orders or if schools/offices are otherwise closed to Reading Partners.
- Should the need exist in the 2021-2022 school year, all AmeriCorps members will be provided with any necessary PPE (personal protective equipment).
- Due to the changing nature of serving in public education, AmeriCorps members may, at any time, be asked to transition to another Reading Partners AmeriCorps position in the same region.
- In the event of a local, state, or federal disaster declaration, AmeriCorps members may be asked on a volunteer basis OR be required by AmeriCorps, the federal agency, or our state AmeriCorps commission to assist in disaster response and recovery activities within their communities. This may involve virtual service opportunities or in-person service opportunities. This may include service opportunities outside of the member’s standard service hours or in place of their standard service duties. Commissions and/or AmeriCorps would provide us with specific guidance as needed in the event of an emergency.
The Roles
Interested in direct service in one or multiple elementary schools? Check out our school-based AmeriCorps opportunity below!
The AmeriCorps Literacy Lead is a direct tutoring support within our in-person reading centers and in using our remote tutoring system for distance tutoring, focusing on target students in need of more individualized instruction. This role, especially in a distance tutoring environment, may also interact a lot with parents and caregivers. This is an exciting opportunity to provide intensive tutoring to kids, and get a hands-on approach to an educational program that works! Our top Literacy Leads are ambassadors for service, demonstrate a passion for tutoring elementary school students, and strongly believe in our vision and values. Note that this role may shift as-needed based on how individual school environments shift given Covid-19.
What you’ll do and how you’ll do it:
Direct Tutoring & Student Support
Tutor an average of 10-15 target students twice per week, identifying alternative methods to provide more intensive and individualized literacy strategies to meet our students’ learning needs.
- The Literacy Lead is an exciting role that hones in on tutoring and educational best practices. Literacy Leads partner with the region’s school-based team to support site setup at multiple reading centers through the first month of launch. Once assigned to a reading center, our Literacy Leads collaborate with AmeriCorps Site Coordinators and AmeriCorps Distance Tutoring Coordinators to identify, assess, and tutor students in need of additional instruction. A strong ability to understand our program is crucial, as is a love for serving directly with students.
Relationship Management & Communication
Forge and maintain positive relationships within the elementary school community to create a positive tutoring environment for students and caregivers.
- Creating strong relationships with target students is a significant aspect of the Literacy Lead’s role. Because Literacy Leads regularly tutor a portfolio of approximately 10-15 students, an inherent passion and ability to connect with and motivate children towards success is crucial.
About You!
You’ll be successful in this role if you:
- Are dedicated to national and community service
- Root your service in our vision & values
- Can problem-solve through challenges and failures
- Are flexible given the ever-changing environment of serving in public schools, and are adaptable in both work style and work environment
- Understand this position is an AmeriCorps service commitment
- Are dedicated to successfully completing a full term of service.
- Demonstrate a passion for working with children
- Possess a natural ability to connect with people
- Are eager for a dynamic schedule
- Pay strong attention to detail and manage competing priorities effectively
- Boast a deep belief in and passionately promote our mission
- Demonstrate a love for relationship-building and public speaking
- Demonstrate an eagerness to train and manage volunteers
- Take initiative in meeting goals and seeking professional growth
- Can quickly learn new technology systems like Salesforce and have a high level of comfort with Google Apps and Zoom Conferencing
- Possess a high school diploma or GED
- Hold US Citizenship or Permanent Resident Status
- Have not completed more than three (3) prior AmeriCorps or VISTA service terms
Bonus Points if you:
- Are an AmeriCorps, Peace Corps, and other national service alum/alumna
- Have experience volunteering with other community-based or education programs
What we offer:
- AmeriCorps members earn a living allowance totaling $9,142.92
- AmeriCorps members are eligible for medical, dental, and vision coverage at no cost for our members; childcare assistance is available through AmeriCorps for those who qualify.
- Eligible AmeriCorps members can earn an education award of $3,172.50 after successfully completing their service term
- You may be eligible for student loan forbearance on federal student loans.
- We offer an exciting and dynamic culture, and we commit to investing in and supporting our amazing people to grow their careers with us. As such, we provide ongoing professional development opportunities such as quarterly AmeriCorps webinars, monthly trainings, and networking opportunities.
- We offer scaffolded support to help navigate these and other service benefits
The Other Things You Need To Know:
- Service Terms: AmeriCorps members serve full-time (approximately 40 hours/week) from January or February, 2022 through June or July, 2022 and must commit to a service term of 900+ hours.
- Commuting: AmeriCorps members regularly travel to school sites throughout the week and need access to reliable transportation on a daily basis. AmeriCorps members also make occasional trips to regional offices and service day events.
- National Days of Service: AmeriCorps members at Reading Partners join thousands of other members across the country to serve each year on 9/11, MLK Day, and during AmeriCorps Week. This is another opportunity to participate in the service movement across the country, and to directly support our communities in a variety of service projects.
- Reading Partners AmeriCorps Vaccination & Testing Policy: In the interest of keeping our students, AmeriCorps members, staff, and community safe, all members serving in school and community based roles are required to mask when in-person and are strongly encouraged to receive the COVID-19 vaccine unless a reasonable accommodation is requested and approved. Members who are vaccinated are able to serve in person immediately, provided they comply with the organization and service site’s mask requirements. Members who are not vaccinated, but will be serving in-person, will be asked to be vaccinated or submit to regular weekly COVID-19 testing. Individual districts may have additional COVID-19 requirements that AmeriCorps members must also abide by.
We look forward to hearing from you!