Reading Partners launched in 2001 with the mission to expand opportunities for children in underserved communities by fostering a lifelong love of reading, developing strong literacy skills, and building the confidence and self-esteem critical to empowerment and community development. Reading Partners provides children with robust one-on-one reading support through a structured, research-based curriculum that engages students and provides basic building blocks to supplement their academic growth. On average, Reading Partners students gain 1.6 months of reading skills for every month in the program.
Working in partnership with teachers, schools, and community volunteers, Reading Partners has grown from serving 100 students in 2003 in northern California with a budget of $180,000 to serving over 2,900 students in California, Washington, D.C., New York, Texas, and Maryland with a budget of almost $8M. A recipient of significant Social Innovation Fund funding through the Edna McConnell Clark Foundation, Reading Partners has plans for continued rapid growth into other regions. For more information about Reading Partners, please visit www.readingpartners.org.
WHAT WE DO AND HOW WE DO IT
Reading Partners is dedicated to transforming struggling young readers into confident readers who are excited about learning.
How we do it:
How we do it:
· Focus on children from low-income communities.
· Give one-on-one instruction at the student’s reading level.
· Recruit and train community volunteers to work with children.
· Partner with high-need elementary schools to offer an effective program on campus.
· Provide a way for volunteers to give a small amount of their time to make a huge difference in a child’s life.
POSITION SUMMARY
We are currently seeking responsible, high-caliber, patient, and motivated tutors to join our growing team. Tutors are essential to carrying out our mission which is to assist elementary school students in literacy development and inspiring children to be life-long readers. Tutors engage in Reading Partners curriculum with selected students in one-on-one tutoring sessions held at our on-site Reading Centers. Tutors will collaborate with the Reading Partners School Site Coordinator to assess the student’s needs and how best to address them. The children that tutors work with are performing below their expected academic grade level and enjoy the benefits of working with a tutor to improve their overall reading skills.
KEY RESPONSIBILITIES
Tutors must:
- Be available to work part time 15-19 hours, M-Th between the hours of 9:00-5:00.
- Commit to work for the current academic year. Consistent, ongoing support is necessary for the children and teachers with whom we work.
- Utilize the Reading Partners’ curriculum to tutor/mentor students.
- Review student progress notes and prior assessment notes prior to each tutoring session, then complete progress notes after each tutoring session.
- Be punctual, attentive, and engaged in tutoring sessions. Unexcused and excessive absences or unsatisfactory performances are unacceptable and are grounds for discipline up to and including dismissal.
- Assist in running the tutoring center, including substitute tutoring, assisting in preparing and coordinating tutoring materials for volunteers.
- Perform other duties, as assigned.
QUALIFICATIONS
- High School Degree or GED (Bachelor’s degree preferred)
- Willingness to learn about tutoring strategies
- Patience working with students who need help learning
- Access to reliable transportation
- Ability to work independently or with limited supervision
- Commit to a schedule and be punctual which is essential to the position
- Ability to interact effectively with diverse groups of people
- Demonstrated ability to be an effective and professional role model for students served
- Bilingual a plus. (Spanish speaking preferred)
TYPICAL PHYSICAL & MENTAL DEMANDS
Requires prolonged sitting with some bending, stooping and stretching. Requires normal range of hearing and eyesight to read and communicate with students.
COMPENSATION
$10 per hour. This is a part-time (6-19 hours per week) non-exempt position. In order for students to reach academic goals for the year, tutors will need to commit to tutor through the current academic school year.
PERKS
We firmly believe in a "culture of learning" for both our students and our tutoring staff. We have a research based curriculum model to work with kids. For our tutors, we will provide on-going training and support to help you and the children meet goals and succeed.
APPLICATION INSTRUCTIONS
If you feel you are a strong fit for this position, submit your resume and a cover letter clearly stating why you would be successful in this position. Due to the volume of applicants, we are unable to respond to every inquiry. We respectfully request no phone calls.
Reading Partners is an Equal Opportunity Employer, with a strong commitment to diversity in the workplace.
