Ridgeway Community School is looking to fill an Early Childhood AmeriCorps LEAP member for the 2022-23 School Year.  This is a full time position but could be broken into two part-time positions. Applications for this position need to be made through the AmeriCorps LEAP program website.  Information about the program is below.  The Ridgeway AmeriCorps LEAP Member will spend their mornings working with our preschool students and the afternoons working with our kindergarten students.  Additional hours will be used for professional development and the support of social and emotional growth of our 1st to 5th grade student population. 

AmeriCorps LEAP Member Financial Benefits

• Receive a monthly living allowance for full time (1700 hours) service (adjusted for half time/900 hours)

• Receive a Segal education award to attend college, graduate school or pay qualified student loans (prorated award for half time position)

• Receive forbearance and interest paid on federal student loans

• Receive health coverage and child care support
Please feel free to call School Coordinator Jodi Dansingburg at 507-454-9566 or  for more information about how this program works at Ridgeway Community School.

AMERICORPS LEAP INITIATIVE

AmeriCorps LEAP (Learning Early Achieves Potential) Initiative members serve in preschool classrooms and nonprofit organizations focused on the social and emotional development of young children in our 20-county region. We recruit, connect, and match members to site service partner positions to help work one-on-one with children who are at-risk of falling behind. Members begin the LEAP service term in August and serve through the following July. Individuals interested in this program may contact Barbara Gunderson, AmeriCorps LEAP Director, at 507-455-3215 or barbarag@smifoundation.org.

Position Title: School Readiness Social-Emotional Skill Builder

Position Overview

AmeriCorps LEAP members are part of a team of advocates, coaches and champions for preschool children identified as falling behind in social and emotion regulation skills critical to Kindergarten success.  Members receive training in the Mind Up curriculum and TACSEI tools to implement social-emotional learning (SEL) strategies through 1:1, small group and teachable moments with children throughout the daily preschool classroom schedule.  LEAP members promote routine reading at home to increase quiet bonding time and word awareness with a six-book distribution to all children. Members share topic information and encourage parent engagement in site-related family events and recruit parent volunteers as needed. Data is collected on all member service activity using child assessments, parent satisfaction surveys and attendance logs to monitor progress in reaching LEAP grant performance objectives. Additional Fact Sheets about the position as well as a link to the AmeriCorps LEAP application can be found at this link.

Essential Functions:

• Building early childhood assets and social/emotional school readiness competencies by:
  • Working under the guidance of the teacher in providing daily classroom support through imbedding support throughout the day; developing activities focused on social skill or emotional regulation themes for 1:1 and small group work; and sharing best practice of social/emotional curriculums used in classroom;
  • Leading individual, small group and large group activities with children, documenting children’s development through observation and implementing specific recommendations from teacher and mental health professionals;
  • Creating classroom materials that support children’s achievement of social skills and emotion regulation necessary for academic learning and Kindergarten;
  • Assess children’s progress and development in achieving social-emotional competencies with baseline benchmark, mid-year and year-end curriculum assessments.
• Provide parent/caregiver information on topics related to importance of reading, sleep, and general child well-being to help prepare them for Kindergarten. Members facilitate a school-year reading effort to promote routine reading in the home for bonding, self-confidence and expanding word awareness for Kindergarten success.  Activities are developed for each book that expands learning and links themes or social-emotional skills when possible.

• Members attend monthly training and service meetings as a professional learning community for team building, leadership, training and best practice sharing to further develop skills and deepen strategies for success.

Qualifications/Competencies

· Have a desire to work with young children

· Display leadership skills, including but not limited to communication, organization, problem solving, dependability, commitment, and flexibility

· Self-motivated and able to work effectively independently, as well as, with a team

· Possess a non-judgmental attitude toward families living in poverty

· Prior experience with volunteerism

· Comfortable in serving as part of a team

· Meet AmeriCorps qualification criteria

Education/Experience/Requirements

• At least two years post high school
• Must have mobility to interact with children
• Must pass background check, as required for working with children

We are committed to recruiting and engaging individuals without regard to disability, gender, race, religion or sexual orientation.  Reasonable accommodations provided upon request.  This document is available in alternative formats.

To obtain an application please visit: http://www.nationalservice.gov/programs/americorps or contact Heidi Coulter at