Americorps Reading Specialist '24-'25 School Year

AmeriCorps Reading Specialist Role:

Austin Achieve Public Schools seeks individuals with an associate's or bachelor's degree to serve as full-time AmeriCorps Reading Specialists at its Elementary, Middle School, and High schools. AmeriCorps Reading Specialists will be trained to implement a unique reading intervention curriculum to serve students who are reading below grade level. AmeriCorps Reading Specialists will play an essential role in the success of Austin Achieve and our accelerated learning efforts via reading interventions for scholars who are behind academically due to the pandemic or other circumstances.

AmeriCorps Reading Specialists will report directly to the AmeriCorps and Special Programs Director at our school district. AmeriCorps Reading Specialists are encouraged to live within their service community of Northeast Austin and involve themselves in the surrounding communities. AmeriCorps Reading Specialists must consent to a criminal history check as they will have recurring access to school-aged students who are considered a vulnerable population by the Corporation for National and Community Service.

AmeriCorps Reading Specialists will go through extensive training with both the AmeriCorps and Special Program Director before they are placed with scholars.

AmeriCorps Reading Specialists will test and teach scholars using the literacy methods prescribed by the Fountas & Pinnell Leveled Literacy Intervention (LLI) program and/or by the Systematic Instruction in Phonological Awareness, Phonics, and Sight Words (SIPPS) intervention program. Testing is done quarterly on a one-on-one basis between the Reading Specialist and scholar.

AmeriCorps Reading Specialists' daily schedule will consist of working with small groups of 2 to 3 students in reading sessions of about 30-45 minutes each. During this time students will be taught reading strategies using the Fountas & Pinnell Leveled Literacy Intervention (LLI) Program or receive foundational skill instruction using the Systematic Instruction in Phonological Awareness, Phonics, and Sight Words (SIPPS) intervention program in addition to other reading strategies determined by the Program Director and Reading Intervention team.

AmeriCorps Reading Specialists will be expected to participate in other literacy activities with scholars during their group time including but not limited to checking out books from the school library, read-alouds, high frequency word practice, letter name practice and letter sound practice.

AmeriCorps Reading Specialists will be considered members of the AAPS campus on which they are embedded and will attend weekly and monthly meetings with AAPS staff in addition to regular meetings with the Program Director and AmeriCorps cohort.

AmeriCorps Reading Specialists are full time AmeriCorps members and are expected to complete 1,700 hours of service per year.

AmeriCorps Reading Specialist Goals:

At the end of the program year, AmeriCorps members will be responsible for improved reading skills among AAPS students as evidenced by performance in the classroom, improved reading level and standardized tests scores.