2019-2020 Program Year
Team UP AmeriCorps Member Position Description:
Transition to Kindergarten Champion
The Program: Team UP is a Collective Impact initiative serving Dolores and Montezuma Counties in southwest Colorado. Since 2015, Team UP has operated under its backbone organization, United Way of Southwest Colorado (UWSWC). Team UP’s mission is to provide a comprehensive system of support to every child in our counties, from cradle to career. Team UP collaborates across sectors and promotes clear communication towards common progress in order to make a big difference.
Montelores Early Childhood Council (MECC) serves both Montezuma and Dolores Counties. We convene stakeholders monthly in our effort to strengthen our local early childhood system and connect to the statewide early childhood system. MECC provides Quality Improvement activities for licensed centers and homes, professional development, family nights, family leadership, community screenings, etc. MECC participates in Team UP Action Teams with the focus of Every Child Enters School Ready to Learn.
AmeriCorps is part of the Corporation for National & Community Service, and has been called “the domestic Peace Corps.” AmeriCorps provides opportunities that engage thousands of Americans in intensive service to meet critical community needs.
Service Position Summary:
The Transition to Kindergarten Champion will be the driving force behind creating a transition to kindergarten process for four-year olds the year before they enter kindergarten. They will work with preschool and kindergarten teachers, as well as the directors and principals of those associated schools, to arrange meetings for preschool and kinder teachers to collaborate. Also, the Champion will host family nights for parents of four-year olds with an established curriculum to help parents understand the transition, how they can help their children be successful, ways to be involved, etc.
Additionally, there are many incoming kindergartners that don’t attend preschool, so we are planning to join with the WIC van to visit outlying areas to do pop-up preschools.
Essential Functions (Primary Responsibilities):
- Provide direct service to preschool and kindergarten teachers, 4 year olds, and their parents.
- Schedule and hold meetings with teachers
- Schedule and facilitate parent trainings on the transition to kindergarten process
- Share transition information at community events
- Coordinate with WIC to schedule, plan and implement preschool lessons in outlying areas
- Track progress and collect data for Performance Measures and other evaluation tools
- Communicate with the regional Team UP AmeriCorps team, and represent Team UP and Serve Colorado in the community and on social media
- Attend trainings and participate in Days of Service
Marginal Functions (Secondary Responsibilities):
- Support United Way of SW Colorado, MECC and ECE Action Teams, and Team UP AmeriCorps team as appropriate and necessary
- Catalog and maintain MECC’s lending library
Physical, Emotional, and intellectual Demands:
- Patience is required, because the member will be serving with young children at times
- Ability to organize meetings and speak with groups of people
- Will be emotionally and intellectually stimulating and satisfying
- Physical demands include being able to gather and carry needed materials to various meetings
Qualifications:
- Ethic of national and community service, strong desire to create positive change
- Ability to communicate effectively both verbally and in writing; computer literate
- Skills or experience preferred: community and volunteer organizing, early childhood development knowledge, family training experience
- High School Graduate required (GED accepted,) college graduate preferred
- Ability to pass criminal history check
- Reliable transportation, proof of auto insurance if you will be transporting others in your vehicle
- U.S. Citizenship or lawful permanent resident status required
Term of Service – Time Commitment: This is a full-time national and community service position requiring, at a minimum, a total of 1,700 hours during the year (approximately 40 hours/week.) The position begins September 3, 2019 and ends August 31, 2020. Flexible hours are required, including occasional evening and weekend commitments. Service on the following dates is required (note that Days of Service dates are subject to change):
-
- September 3-4: Team UP AmeriCorps Member Orientation (2 days, 1 night,) Dolores
- September 5: Site Specific Training at MECC Office
- September 11: Day of Service and Remembrance
- October: Statewide AmeriCorps Retreat, location in Colorado to be determined
- January 21: Martin Luther King Jr. Day of Service
- March 31: Cesar Chavez Day of Service
- 4 additional Team UP AmeriCorps Trainings, dates and locations to be determined
- Other required days, TBD
Trainings and Support Provided: Team UP AmeriCorps members receive significant training and experience in community engagement, project implementation, leadership, diverse populations, and more. Up to 20% of total hours served may be spent in applicable, approved trainings. Member will be supervised and supported by Vangi McCoy ( vangim@monteloresecc.org), as well as by Al Huckins, AmeriCorps Program Director (alh@unitedway-swco.org). The 11 Team UP AmeriCorps members serving throughout the region will act as resources and support for each other.
Location and Service Conditions: This position is based at Montelores Early Childhood Council at 925 S. Broadway, Cortez, CO. and will involve service at other locations in Montezuma and/or Dolores Counties. Position is office-based, and will involve occasional/frequent days of service (outdoors and/or in a school and/or community building.)
Benefits: Team UP AmeriCorps members receive:
- A living allowance of $17,000/year. Taxes are deducted and the living allowance is distributed monthly, by direct deposit to the member’s bank account.
- Health insurance; child care assistance, if eligible.
- An education award of $6,095 upon successful completion of term of service. It is possible to defer student loans while serving as an AmeriCorps member.
- Mileage reimbursement will paid at the IRS rate for travel to required trainings and days of service. Carpooling is strongly encouraged.
- Non-tangible benefits including extensive training, valuable experience, networking, and the opportunity to serve the local community in a crucial area of need.
Diversity and Equal Opportunity: United Way values the diversity of our community. In principle and in practice the diverse nature of our board, staff, and volunteers is recognized as one of our best assets. We respect each individual’s unique gifts and prohibit unfair or discriminatory practices against anyone because of age, race, color, religion, national origin, disability, gender, sexual orientation, and any other protected category.
To Apply: To apply to be an AmeriCorps member, you need to create an account with the AmeriCorps Recruitment System. The application period opens July 15, 2018, and the deadline is August 15, 2019.
- Go to the website: my.americorps.gov, click on “Apply to Serve” at the bottom of the page.
- Complete the requested profile information. (You will need a Social Security number and valid address, telephone number, and email.)
- Once you receive your account information via email, log on to the myAmeriCorps portal and use the navigation pane on the left to complete your application and references.
- When your application is complete, click “Search Listings.” Type “United Way of Southwest Colorado” into the Program Name field, click “Search.” Click the listing and submit your application to United Way of Southwest Colorado.