CISCT AmeriCorps Early Childhood Classroom Assistants (ECCAs) serve in the ASPIRE toddler and preschool classrooms to provide support to our Early Childhood Instructors and to promote growth and development of children ages 0-3 in a safe and nurturing environment. AmeriCorps ECCAs gain hands-on, practical experience working in an early childhood classroom environment while engaging with children, families, and CISCT ASPIRE staff.
Service Activities
As a CIS AmeriCorps Early Childhood Classroom Assistant (ECCA), you'll support the Early Childhood Instructor in daily tasks and routines in the early childhood education classes for infants, toddlers, or preschoolers, as assigned. You'll follow classroom schedules and routines that are consistent to ensure children have enough physical activity, child-directed play, learning centers, outdoor time, and rest to support their growth and learning, using a variety of creative, intercultural, inclusive, differentiated, research-based instructional strategies that ensure students are actively engaged in meaningful learning experiences.
ASPIRE uses a two-generation team approach to service delivery with a focus on parental involvement, parent/teacher rapport and high levels of communication with families.
ECCA's serve as a productive member of the CIS AmeriCorps team at the ASPIRE program site, and meet with the ASPIRE Family Education Coordinator at least once per week for supervision and project support.
Community Need Addressed
The Communities In Schools ASPIRE Family Literacy Program (Achieving Success through Parental Involvement, Reading and Education) provides comprehensive literacy services for the entire family. ASPIRE provides education for families with children 0-7 years old who are in need of ESL and/or GED classes, and live in southeast Austin. Services are provided at in the ASPIRE building behind Travis High School, as well as during monthly home visits. ASPIRE serves approximately 100 families per year.
ASPIRE Provides:
Evidence-based parenting classes
Early Childhood services and supervision while parents attend Adult Education classes (non-licensed facility)
Adult education (ESL, GED, Computers)
“Parent As Teachers” home visits
Intergenerational literacy activities
Position Outcomes
ASPIRE raises literacy levels of adults and children while increasing parents’ ability and confidence in supporting their children’s literacy needs at home and in school. School district performance data indicate that ASPIRE children academically outperform their peers even years after having left the program.
Benefits
Education award upon successful completion of service, Living allowance, Student loan forbearance, Training
Student Loans: You may place most existing federal student loans into forbearance while you serve (meaning you do not have to make payments on them).
Interest Accrual: AmeriCorps will also pay off some or all of the interest accrued on qualified loans during your year of service (upon successful completion of your service year) for the loans placed into forbearance through AmeriCorps. Giving a year of service is like getting 10 interest-free months on your loans.
Nutrition Benefits: Finally, you may also qualify for SNAP nutrition benefits, which can be used to supplement or replace your food budget. Many AmeriCorps members use these funds to stretch their incomes farther. Full-time members may qualify for as much as $189 a month for the purchase of food. If you have dependents you may be eligible for additional funds.
Access to Employers of National Service: Employers of National Service connects AmeriCorps and Peace Corps alumni with employers from the private, public, and nonprofit sectors. Through this initiative, employers have increased access to a dedicated, highly qualified, and mission-oriented pool of potential employees, and national service alumni have additional opportunities to apply their skills in the workplace. Here is a list of current employers: https://www.nationalservice.gov/special-initiatives/employers-national-service/search-network
Access to nationwide AmeriCorps alumni network: AmeriCorps Alums is dedicated to getting things done for AmeriCorps alums and members actively serving. The only national network that connects the nearly 1 million alumni of all AmeriCorps programs to the people, ideas, and resources that support our commitment to a lifetime of service.
Skills you will gain
Early Childhood Education, Youth Development, Conflict Resolution, Communication, Data-Entry, Leadership, CPR/First Aid
Competencies You Will Develop
Communication
Demonstrate sensitivity and empathy, Listen to and consider others' viewpoints, Maintain open lines of communication with others, Turn taking
Creativity & Problem Solving
Able to identify and define the problem, Capable of generating possible solutions, Communicate the problem to appropriate personnel, Improvise, Provide relevant expertise, Select and implement well-considered solution
Teamwork
Derive consensus, Develop constructive working relationships and maintain them over time, Establish a high degree of trust and credibility with others, Interact professionally and respectfully with supervisors and co-workers, Stay positive and outcome oriented, Use appropriate strategies and solutions for dealing with conflicts and differences to maintain a smooth workflow
Decisions
Accepts responsibility, Anticipate the consequences of decisions, Identify and prioritize the key issues involved to facilitate the decision making process, Involve people appropriately in decisions that may impact them, Quickly respond with a back-up plan if a decision goes amiss
Tools
Consistently choose the best tool or technological solution for the problem at hand
Planning
Able to prioritize various competing tasks, Create environment of contribution, Create plan of action, schedule tasks so that work is completed on time, Demonstrate the effective allocation of time and resources efficiently, Facilitate group planning, Set goals
Service
Be pleasant, courteous, professional and respectful when dealing with internal and external customers or clients, Honor the privilege of being able to work with and for those being served, Provide personalized, prompt, and efficient service to meet the requirements, requests and needs of customers, Recognize the importance of maintaining privacy and confidentiality of those being served, Understand and anticipate the needs of others, Understand the importance of one's role in the functioning of the organization, Understand the significance of maintaining a healthful and safe environment