Job Description

Austin Achieve Public Schools is a tuition-free, open-enrollment public charter school preparing Austin youth to attend and excel at the nation’s top colleges and universities.

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, Manor, or Pflugerville 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 be required to wear the AmeriCorps logo daily, whether serving in person or remotely on camera. Appointments will be for one year, with an option for a second year, if mutually agreed upon by the Program Director and the AmeriCorps Member.

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 .

First Year AmeriCorps Reading Specialist Essential Functions:

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 Campus Leadership Teams.

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 continue pulling small groups and participate in other literacy activities with scholars 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 during summer school.

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.

At the end of each quarter, AmeriCorps members will meet with the Program Director to review scholar progress to on-grade level reading goals and identify any gaps in programming implementation and efficacy.

The AmeriCorps and Special Programs Director will evaluate AmeriCorps member success and student performance by supporting the implementation of the Fountas & Pinnell reading level assessment and Dibels assessments multiple times each year. The Program Director will also track program success through performance measures including attendance, academic, social, and emotional learning progress, and academic engagement of scholars being served by AmeriCorps members.

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

This offer is contingent on funding from One Star for the Americorps Reading Intervention Program.

OneStar Disaster Requirement: In the event of a local, state, or federal disaster declaration, AmeriCorps members may be asked on a volunteer basis or be required by OneStar to activate to assist in disaster response and recovery activities within their communities. This may involve virtual service opportunities or in-person service opportunities outside of the member’s stand service hours or in place of their standard service duties. In the event of a large-scale, high needs local, state, or federal disaster, AmeriCorps members may voluntarily or be required by OneStar to deploy to an area outside of their service area to assist in disaster response and recovery activities.

AmeriCorps Reading Specialist Benefits:

In addition to the living allowance provided, AmeriCorps Reading Specialists may qualify for the following:

• Health insurance coverage
• Segal Education Award $7,395.00 (eligible upon completion)
• Forbearance on eligible student loans
• Support with childcare costs

Statement of Non-Discrimination: In keeping with our beliefs and goals, no employee or applicant will face discrimination/harassment based on race, color, ancestry, national origin, religion, age, gender, marital/domestic partner status, sexual orientation, gender identity, disability status, or veteran status. People of diverse backgrounds are strongly encouraged to apply.

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