Job Openings

Summer Associates are a position supported by the AmeriCorps*VISTA program. Literacy Mid-South Summer Associates will be charged with implementing effective programming and ensuring quality data-measures for summer reading programs. Literacy Mid-South is an intermediary organization working with programs over the summer who serve at-risk readers. Without quality programming over the summer, at risk-readers are likely to lose at least three months of reading achievement. Summer programming has a massive impact on the educational outcomes for youth. This program will provide associates with the opportunity to prevent the devastating effects of summer learning loss and learn about educational assessment procedures and reading instruction theories. Here are some of the roles the Summer Associates will play this summer:

Site-support

• Support programming as needed
• Prep work for the next day
• Observe programming to monitor procedural compliance
• Put together a list of observations and meet with appropriate staff to address areas of need

Pre- and Post-Assessments

• Learn about assessments for literacy in elementary education programs
• Work as a group to help sub-sites implement effective pre- and post-assessments
• Ensure monitoring of assessment procedures
• Monitor attendance tracking

Parent Engagement

• Research parent engagement best practices
• Understand current parent engagement practices for the organization
• Plan and implement parent engagement activities and programs
• Monitor attendance for the program
• Connect with students who have at-risk attendance over the summer
• Reach out to parents and families for students with at-risk attendance

AmeriCorps*VISTA Summer Associate details:

• 40 hours per week
• May 30th start date
• 8 Week commitment (no breaks)
• Stipend bi-weekly + education award/service award

Minimum Qualifications:

• 18 years or older
• Passion for education
• Desire to learn
• Able to interact with technology
• Organized

Accepting applications between February 20th and May 15th. APPLY ONLINE HERE.

Question?  Contact Sam Mattson here (smattson [at] literacymidsouth [dot] org).

AmeriCorps*VISTA is a program created by the United States Government under the Corporation for National Community Service (CNCS). VISTA members serve for a minimum of one full year. The position is a full time obligation and requires a lot of dedication and commitment to volunteer service. During the service, VISTAs will receive a non-negotiable stipend bi-weekly from the government at $447.86, which will total about ($10,750.00) for one year of service.  VISTAs also recieve college reimbursement of $5,000 at the end of their year of service.

AmeriCorps*VISTA members are passionate and committed to their mission to bring individuals and communities out of poverty.  Members make a year-long, full-time commitment to serve on a specific project at a nonprofit organization or public agency. They focus their efforts to build the organizational, administrative, and financial capacity of organizations that fight illiteracy, improve health services, foster economic development, and otherwise assist low-income communities. 

The Literacy Mid-South VISTA Project seeks to build the capacity of after school programs to implement evidence driven reading programming for elementary school students. With VISTA member support, project host sites commit to embedding literacy instruction into their existing programming, whether that is homework help or tutoring. Literacy Mid-South is the convener for a network called the 3rd Grade Reading Collaborative Action Network along with Seeding Success. Our aim is to increase reading scores in Shelby County Schools to 90% by 2025. Literacy Mid-South will serve as an intermediary VISTA site for our after school programs including: Memphis Athletic Ministries, Refugee Empowerment Program, the Emmanuel Center Inc., Catholic Charities, Seeding Success and Literacy Mid-South.

To apply to become an AmeriCorps*VISTA member, you must apply online at the official AmeriCorps website.  

VISTA Description #1: Information Management VISTA

Assists Literacy Mid-South and its partners with educational data collection, maintenance, and reporting processes. Interface with network partners to support their use of student and program data and technology. Assists the Research and Technology Analyst to develop and manage information to support decision-making, planning, and the continuous quality improvement of Summer Learning and After School Programs. Responsible for managing the Read901 Lending Library.

Placement Sites: Literacy Mid-South, Seeding Success

Needs:

• Detail oriented/meticulous
• Responsible
• Willing to learn
• Interest in data and education

APPLY ONLINE HERE

Question?  Contact Sam Mattson here (smattson [at] literacymidsouth [dot] org).