Schools of Hope

Serve with AmeriCorps

Serving with AmeriCorps is a way to put your idealism into action – it is a real-life education and professional service experience wrapped into one! As an AmeriCorps member with the Schools of Hope Project, you will contribute to the academic success of our community’s children while developing and using your own professional skills. Throughout your term of service, you will learn teamwork, responsibility and other essential skills that will help you for the rest of your life.

Schools of Hope AmeriCorps members receive a living allowance, student loan deferment, professional development training and, for full-time members, health insurance. After you complete your term of service, you will also receive a Segal AmeriCorps Education Award to help pay for college, graduate school or vocational training or to repay student loans. For AmeriCorps Alumni looking to continue their education, Schools of National Service offers avenues for potential scholarship opportunities or matching of Segal Education Awards.

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Current Service Opportunities

 

Schools of Hope values all qualified applicants to this program with equal consideration for employment without regard to race, color, national origin, disability, age, sex, political affiliation or religion. United Way of Dane County recognizes racism as a public health crisis, understands racism as a root cause of inequity in our society, stands in total opposition to all acts of racism and discrimination and is actively working to become anti-racist. 

SUPERVISOR: Project Director

OBJECTIVES:

  • Work with school staff to provide literacy tutoring support aimed at improving the academic achievement of kindergarten through fifth grade students in high-need schools.
  • Participate in widespread community collaboration coordinated by United Way of Dane County, in partnership with Madison Metropolitan School District, Sun Prairie Area School District, AmeriCorps*State and other partners.

RESPONSIBILITIES:

  • Work with school staff to identify the literacy tutoring needs of your assigned school.
  • Tutor a selected group of students at your assigned school.
  • Assist with the recruitment, training, orientation and placement of tutors at your assigned school.
  • Provide ongoing support and in-service training for the tutors you supervise.
  • Track tutoring and volunteer hours at your assigned school and complete monthly/quarterly reports.
  • Assist with implementation of evaluation tools for assessing the success of tutoring efforts.
  • Utilize feedback from tutors, program participants and staff to enhance tutor management practices.
  • Work with project and school staff to develop, record and institute standard tutor management practices for your elementary school.
  • Support project-wide activities.
  • Participate in required training, including tutor management, literacy tutoring and topics related to diversity, equity and inclusion.
  • Option to spend a limited percentage of hours volunteering in community service outside project goals.
  • Support summer school programming (1700 hour slot only).

QUALIFICATIONS:

  • Ability to effectively perform role through equity and anti-racism.
  • Ability to work effectively both independently and as part of a team.
  • Ability to effectively develop and navigate varied partnerships among school staff, students and community volunteers.
  • Commitment to service and the goals of Schools of Hope.
  • Willingness to engage in ongoing learning, training and professional development.
  • Must be 18 years or older.
  • Must be a U.S. Citizen or have permanent resident status, per AmeriCorps regulations.
  • Ability to pass a National Service Criminal History Check.

Q: WHAT IS THE LIVING ALLOWANCE?
A: Please see our compensation and benefits outline to learn more.

Q: HOW MUCH IS THE EDUCATION AWARD?
A: AmeriCorps members receive an education award upon completion of their term of service. For the 2022-2023 school year:

  • 1700 Hour = $6,495 Education Award
  • 1200 Hour = $4,546 Education Award

Q: WHAT REQUIREMENTS ARE THERE TO BE AN AMERICORPS MEMBER:
A: Members on our project must be:

  • 18 years or older
  • A U.S. Citizen or have permanent resident status
  • Able to pass AmeriCorps background check requirements

Q: WILL I BE THE ONLY AMERICORPS MEMBER IN THE AREA?
A: You’re not alone! During the school year, we hope to have at least 16 AmeriCorps members who work as literacy tutors and bring community members into our school as volunteers.