Since 1998 WRC has partnered with more than 200 under-performing schools statewide to address literacy issues on behalf of 20,000 students each year, in providing academic and other essential support.
Locally, OIC of Washington places 25 AmeriCorps and VISTA members in the following schools:
Yakima:
- Barge Lincoln Elementary (2 team members)
- McKinley Elementary (4 team members)
- Robertson Elementary (2 team members)
- Roosevelt Elementary (3 team members)
- Page Ahead Children’s Literacy Program (2 team members
stationed at the Yakima OIC of Washington
office)
Harrah:
- Harrah Elementary (4 team members)
Grandview:
- Harriet Thompson Elementary (3 team members)
Prosser:
- Keene-Riverview Elementary (3 team members)
Benton City:
- Kiona-Benton Elementary (2 team members) |
Each school offers a unique opportunity with unique challenges but each school allows members to gain invaluable experience working in schools alongside teachers.
Membership
We offer three types of memberships: USA, VISTA and Page Ahead VISTA. All members receive a modest living allowance and upon successful completion of the program, all members receive education award grant. Members receive health insurance, and childcare is available to those who qualify. VISTA members who relocate to the Yakima Valley to serve in VISTA may be reimbursed for some of their moving expenses.
What do I do as a WRC member?
USA members directly tutor students in the classroom for a majority of their day; they may also spend time organizing family literacy events, and some time recruiting and managing volunteers.
While serving full-time as reading tutor; the central element of a Washington Reading Corps USA position, there is so much more.
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What do I do as a WRC member?
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Activities include such events as Volunteer recruitment, training, event planning, creating family involvement activities, coordinating before and after school programs, arts and crafts, and many other measures will be a part of your daily life. If you are interested in teaching, or in learning the inner-workings of an elementary school, this is the position for you!
VISTA members are more concerned with long-term sustainable solutions to illiteracy. They focus on creating community partnerships that result in long term consistent volunteers.
VISTA members manage adult and peer cross age volunteers, and work in the community to solicit donations to support their programs.
While serving full-time as a VISTA member with Washington Reading Corps, your mission is to eradicate poverty by improving literacy. To that end, your activities include: work closely with your school to recruit and train community volunteers, set up evening events that will draw families into the schools, increase partnerships with local businesses, create before and after school programs, and many other activities aimed at building strong, sustainable programs. This is a great way to make community connections, and to learn about the nuts and bolts of making an elementary school work, teaching, and school administration.
Page Ahead VISTA members work with the Page Ahead organization to further their mission of bringing books and children together. Page Ahead members spend their time organizing community book drives, helping schools organize free book campaigns, working in schools facilitating story times activities, and working in communities to facilitate families literacy workshops.
While serving full-time as part of our two-member VISTA team, your mission is to work with partner sites to involve parents and caregivers in the reading activities of their children. Based on research, best practices, and a survey of its partner sites, Page Ahead is helping parents become active participants in their child's literacy development. Also Page Ahead VISTA members work in the community to organize innovative book drives, and community activities centered on literacy. Page Ahead VISTA members also facilitate ‘story time’ activities at partner sites. This is a great way to make community connections, and to learn about the nuts and bolts of making an elementary school work, teaching, and school administration.
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