Dept. of Public Instruction AmeriCorps*VISTA

Develop family, school, and community partnership practices in low-income schools to help close the achievement gap.

The Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction VISTA project seeks to close the achievement gap through partnerships, that is, to enhance the capacity of low-income schools and improve student achievement by developing practices that involve families, the school, and the community.

The Department of Public Instruction recognizes that the main reason to create family-school-community partnerships is to help all youth succeed in school and in later life—that when parents, teachers, students, and others view one another as partners in education, a caring community forms around students and begins its work.

Under the guidelines of the project, the VISTA will perform the job using a comprehensive framework for establishing such partnerships. Members serve in low-income schools around the state, both urban and rural.

We currently are recruiting candidates to serve at sites located in Milwaukee and other possible locations (to be determined). We will confirm all sites by the end of April. All positions start mid-August.

What VISTAs do: -Develop and expand ongoing collaborative partnerships between schools and their respective families and communities -Involve families in learning at home, volunteering, communication with teachers and administrators, and decision making processes that affect students’ education -Facilitate an Action Team for Partnerships that designs, implements, and sustains partnership practices

Expected skills and qualifications of AmeriCorps*VISTA members: -College degree and previous community service -Excellent oral and written communication skills -Willingness to take initiative to promote partnerships -Entrepreneurial skills (to seek funding) -Relationship-building, teamwork, and leadership skills -Patience, willingness to learn, and open-mindedness to differing perspectives and ideas -Excellent organizational skills -Commitment to the mission of the project and its impact on schools and communities

Benefits for AmeriCorps*VISTA members -Living allowance of $833-865/month -Health benefits -Child care, if eligible (max $300/month) -End-of-year cash stipend of $1,200 or Education Award of $4,725 -10 personal leave days and 10 sick days -Option for life insurance -Relocation allowance, depending on distance of move

We are currently recruiting for VISTA members in the following cities around the state of Wisconsin. Milwaukee, Green Bay, Janesville, Spooner, Sparta, Rhinelander, Tomahawk, and Black River Falls

How to Apply: Go to the AmeriCorps website [https://recruit.cns.gov] and apply online. You will need the program ID# for the DPI: WI451823-0 Just follow the "How to Join" and "Apply Now" links and use the DPI's program ID# when prompted.