Kids on Course Academic Support Specialists will focus on four areas of student impact - skill building, after school enrichment, expanding volunteer activities, and summer programming. Members serve at an elementary, middle, or high school throughout their entire year of service. Elementary schools – Grant, Harrison, Hoover, Taylor, and Van Buren. Middle schools – Roosevelt and Wilson. High school – Jefferson and Kennedy. All schools are in the Cedar Rapids Community School District. AmeriCorps members will have the opportunity to lead student enrichment, STEAM, and tutoring activities throughout the school year and summer programming. Host sites may change, though grade levels served will remain the same, as the program shifts into summer programming.
Service Activities
Perform in-class, small group, and 1-on-1 tutoring sessions with struggling learners and document these sessions in Microsoft Excel
Lead enrichment programming at their respective site in conjunction with Kids on Course Learning Lab school year program and elementary Kids on Course University, Middle School Scholar Camp, or High School Boot Camp summer programs
Perform Check and Connect sessions with students to assess behaviors, needs, and participation
Perform scheduled mentoring activities such as lunch buddies
Serve as a member of a site team to organize and implement large scale events promoting education or engagement
Manage and recruit volunteers to assist in literacy interventions, read to children, pack and distribute weekend food bags, and provide enrichment activities
Student transportation support for after school and summer programs
Based on changing COVID-19 pandemic conditions, AmeriCorps members may be required to teleserve or perform program-approved alternative service in response to the impact of the pandemic on the local community
This program may require the member to engage in additional allowable activities that support the AmeriCorps program design, and which help the program meet its goals. In no circumstance, will members be asked or allowed to perform prohibited activities.
Community Need Addressed
To provide academic support and increase engagement for low-income children, kindergarten through 12th grade, through literacy and math tutoring, enrichment curricula, coordination of after school interventions, and summer programming in the Cedar Rapids Community School District.
Position Outcomes
Kids on Course AmeriCorps will reduce the achievement gap for low-income students in the Cedar Rapids area, and put students on a path for high school graduation and post-secondary education.
Benefits
Childcare assistance if eligible, Education award upon successful completion of service, Health coverage, Living allowance, Student loan forbearance, Training
Member Assistance Program (life coaching, financial, legal, mental health counseling, all free to members)
Competencies You Will Develop
Communication
Demonstrate sensitivity and empathy, 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, Write cleary and effectively
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
Carefully consider which tools or technological solutions are appropriate for a given job, 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, Set goals
Service
Be pleasant, courteous, professional and respectful when dealing with internal and external customers or clients, Evaluate customer or client satisfaction, 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