The Fellowship
Now accepting applications for the 2024-25 school year!
Reading Assist Fellows dedicate a school year of service and help struggling readers most in need of help.
August/September 2024
Training runs for 3 weeks beginning in August or September of 2024
August/September 2024 - June 2025
School service begins in August or September 2024 and ends early June 2025
Positions Available
Full-day, half-day, and 3-day/week positions available
About the Fellowship
Reading Assist Fellows serve in elementary schools across Delaware, providing reading instruction to students in kindergarten through third grade who face significant reading challenges. Fellows teach foundational reading skills to students who might never learn to read through traditional classroom education.
Fellows typically work with 8-10 students for 30-45 minutes each day and meet with an experienced coach every week for support and feedback.
The Reading Assist Fellowship, an AmeriCorps program, requires 1200 service hours (900 if part-time) to be completed between August 26, 2024 or September 23, 2024 and June 7, 2025.
Fellows begin with 3 weeks of full-time, graduate-level training and then are embedded into high-needs elementary schools. Training takes place in-person at either our Wilmington or Dover training site.
Reading Assist Fellows receive many benefits, including:
- A $1,000 biweekly living allowance ($700/biweekly if part-time)
- A $5,100 education award* (determined by the Pell Grant) upon successful completion of 1200 service hours ($3,600 for part-time, 900 service hours)**
- A $500 relocation allowance if moving 50 miles or more to serve
- Student loan deferment
- An opportunity to receive professional certification in reading intervention (August and September sessions only)
- Resume-building professional experience
- Education sector exposure
- Healthcare benefits (full-time only)
- Childcare (if needed)
*Members who are 55 years of age or older when they begin service may gift the education award to a child or grandchild.
** Education award determined by hours served.
We seek passionate, capable tutors willing to serve the students and the community. You do not need teaching experience, but you must be ready to commit to students for the entire school year.
- Willingness to commit to a full school year of service working daily in schools:
– Full-time: 38-40 hours/week, Monday-Friday from approximately 8 a.m.-3:30 p.m. (plus planning time)
– Part-time: 26-28 hours/week, Monday-Friday 8 a.m.-12:30 p.m. OR Tuesday-Thursday 8 a.m.-3:30 p.m. (plus planning time)
- Ability to blend, segment, and manipulate sounds within words
- Willingness to work with children in kindergarten through third grade, including children who may have behavioral challenges in addition to academic needs
- Interest in literacy, education, and community service
- Demonstrate resilience, adaptability, and professionalism
- Maintain a patient and flexible mindset
- Openness to constructive feedback
- Complete an AmeriCorps application
- Submit to background checks and fingerprints
- U.S. citizen or permanent resident alien
- College degree preferred
- Must be proficient with Google Classroom, Zoom, PowerPoint, and email
- Must have a computer (laptop or desktop)
- Proficiency in Spanish a plus
Ready to Apply?
Change the life of a struggling reader while you gain professional experience.
