Ten Rural Outreach Project (ROP) members will live in the communities where they serve. ROP members will primarily be responsible for teaching music to students during and after school four to five days per week. In addition, ROP members assist in training and supervising volunteers that help them inside and outside of the classroom. ROP members spend 36 weeks in rural sites, and the remainder of the time in Portland for training and evaluation. Member allowance is $13,992 over 11 months, with a $6,095 education award upon successful completion of service, in addition to other benefits. Programming begins August 12th, 2019 and ends by July 12th, 2020. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KbqvKAk3MAI Positions are open until filled.
Service Activities
ESSENTIAL RESPONSIBILITIES:
1. Teach general music classes to kindergarten through sixth grade students.
2. Teach elective music courses at the middle school and high school levels.
3. Organize and/or teach after-school music classes in two to four instruments.
4. Recruit and train community members to be volunteer teaching assistants.
5. Encourage and track youth, volunteer and parent involvement in all activities.
6. Attend Ethos instructor trainings and AmeriCorps sponsored orientation, trainings, and meetings.
7. Complete and submit in a timely manner all Ethos and AmeriCorps required reports and timesheets.
8. Complete 1700 hours of service over 11 months (August 2019 – July 2020).
MARGINAL RESPONSIBILITIES:
1. Organize student performances and community music events in each town.
2. Provide community music classes.
3. Consult with staff on recruitment and long-term programming plans.
4. Complete four days of service outside of normal service site, with at least two being environmentally based.
Community Need Addressed
The Rural Outreach Project was developed in response to a crisis in rural arts education. As schools in rural Oregon faced major budget deficits, arts and music programs were cut almost completely, effectively eliminating arts and music education before and after school. The Rural Outreach Project addresses this need by placing full-time AmeriCorps members to serve as music teaching artists in rural communities throughout Oregon. These AmeriCorps members provide quality music instruction in-school and group lessons after-school. Members also contribute to the communities they serve, often by attending community events, joining and leading local bands, and organizing community volunteers to help with current and future education efforts.
Position Outcomes
1. Students living in the rural Oregon towns of Condon, Dufur, Falls City, Spray, Maupin, Monument, Madras, Metolius, and Silver Lake will receive three hours of music education per week (36 weeks) for 1,200 students.
2. 80% of students will demonstrate an increase in musical aptitude via Ethos' curricula benchmarks.
3. All students will perform in a community performance open to the public.
Benefits
Childcare assistance if eligible, Education award upon successful completion of service, Health coverage, Living allowance, Student loan forbearance, Training
Mileage reimbursement.
Skills you will gain
Public speaking, classroom management, conflict resolution, curriculum planning and development, event planning.
Competencies You Will Develop
Communication
Demonstrate sensitivity and empathy, Lead group discussion, Listen to and consider others' viewpoints, Maintain open lines of communication with others, Speak clearly, in precise language and in a logical, organized and coherent manner
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
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, Seek opportunities to improve knowledge of tools and technologies that may assist in streamlining work and improving productivity
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, Drive decision making, 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, 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