This AmeriCorps Supplementary Intervention Specialist bridges classroom instruction in order to support a student’s ability to read, write, speak, and listen in English which provides the student with meaningful access to Alief ISD’s ESL program. This Member works with 12-18 students per campus per day over the course of the school year via push-in interventions 1:1 or in push-out small groups no larger than three.
The Supplementary Intervention Specialist has a specific interest in teaching that impacts the lives of recent immigrants and/or refugees applying concepts of service learning and acculturation to maximize the learning experience of the students being served. This Member will lead students in two community service projects during the school year.
Service Activities
AmeriCorps Member Supplementary Intervention Specialists serve a minimum of 1200 hours in a 10 month term of service from September 1, 2022 to June 30, 2023. This Member serves an average of 35 per week which includes training, service hours and professional development.
Serving middle school students, the Member serves on two different Alief ISD and Fort Bend ISD campuses alternating days at each
Serving high school students, the Member is assigned to the same high school campus each day
Engages with 12-18 students per campus per day either 1:1 via a push-in intervention or in small groups of three.
Provides supplementary support in English or Spanish for bilingual and/or ESL program students needing intervention
Meets with teachers to plan and implement supplementary interventions
Ensures understanding and comprehension for ESL students to complete classroom activities successfully
Fosters a nurturing, supportive, and positive learning environment to encourage English language development, enhances motivation, and clearly communicate classroom routines and expectations.
Maintains complete and accurate records of student’s progress
Informs Classroom Teachers of students’ progress
Leads students in two community service programs throughout the year
Community Need Addressed
Schools with dense populations of refugees/recent immigrants (40-80%) lack sufficient personnel to address deficits posed by Limited English Proficiency (LEP) students to increase academic performance (currently 50% peers’ level in the classroom/standardized tests) and social engagement, particularly in children who immigrated in their teens with poor schooling in the home country. Children 5-11 in disadvantaged immigrant/refugee populations lack access to out-of-school programs that address deficits in English as a Second Language (ESL) and provide general academic support.
Based on our own research and demographic information provided by Alief ISD, the program in middle/high schools will be on campuses with more than 40% LEP students and populations of more than 70% recent immigrants/refugees. Alief ISD Second Language Education Department identifies which individuals are most in need of intervention/support and complete a program referral form.
Position Outcomes
”Supplementary Intervention Specialists” AmeriCorps members are necessary for building capacity of existing programs in local school districts for middle/high school ages and within after school programs catering to ages 5-11 by providing supplementary language acquisition and academic support, mentoring and creative stimulation, and service learning to help each child overcome their challenges.
Beneficiaries in the 5-to-11-year-old bracket at apartment-based after school centers are selected directly as registrants of the program, because these centers are situated in complexes with close to 100% recent immigrant and/or refugee populations.
Variables such as attendance, family dynamics, work and external social elements add to LEP impact on academic performance and school engagement. However, using 5-years of data from ASPIRE Centers and Alief ISD, along with the ratio of members:beneficiaries, an output of 252 individuals served should meet an outcome of 151 individuals reporting increased academic performance.
Benefits
Education award upon successful completion of service, Living allowance, Student loan forbearance, Training
In addition to robust position-related training at onboarding, Members also receive substantive professional development training throughout the service year.
Education Benefits
College Degree
Skills you will gain
Passion for service
Teaching English, Teaching Literacy, Servant Leadership, Lesson 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, 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
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, Operate tools and equipment in accordance with established operating procedures, safety standards, and ethical guidelines, 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