Education Team

Children’s experiences in the education system have a major impact on the balance of their lives.  The inability to read well, or to read at all, keeps the vicious cycle of poverty turning.  Recognizing this critical unmet need, AmeriCorps St. Louis makes a difference in the lives of our most at-risk children who have “fallen through the cracks” of public education. AmeriCorps St. Louis Members serve in elementary schools and focus on intensive one-on-one tutoring, attacking a root cause of continuing poverty – illiteracy.  Literacy is a gatekeeper of success and a prerequisite of active citizenship. Thus, AmeriCorps Members help students learn to read in order to read to learn.

Read great stories from our Education Team or apply to be a full-time Member.

Meet the Current Education Team!

AmeriCorps Members have a unique position within the school.  By being consistently present, from morning through after-school, and organizing school-wide activities and school beautification projects, a team of AmeriCorps Members impacts the climate of the entire school.  By monitoring students’ progress through specially designed evaluation tools, tutors are able to identify obstacles to learning and address each child’s individual needs.  And by working with the same 5-10 students throughout the school year, Members develop strong relationships with lasting impact.

Seeing our Members commit to a year of service makes me feel hopeful. Hopeful that their efforts bring them as much personal success as it does to the students they are serving. HOpeful that their efforts breed a sense of community – so others will see that we all need to to help one another. Hopeful that the student they serve will never forget that at one time, they had the undivided attention of a person that helped them achieve a goal. And hopeful, that their tie spent with us is as inspiring to them as it is to the staff, students, and the communities they are serving.

- Diane Dymond, St. Louis Public Schools