To meet different learning needs of students and maximize students' time in school, BPE selects and trains AmeriCorps members to serve in either the Boston Teacher Residency or the Dudley Promise Corps. Teachers-in-training in the Boston Teacher Residency serve to provide students with personalized academic support on the core curriculum during class time alongside a mentor teacher. Dudley Promise Corps members-- recruited largely from the surrounding community--provide personalized academic support to address academic skill gaps, mainly outside of the classroom during designated learning blocks throughout the schools' expanded day. All members build relationships with students, serve as role models and informal mentors, and support student engagement.
Service Activities
Boston Promise Corps member serving in the Boston Teacher Residency:
Since the Boston Teacher Residency's founding in 2003, the highly successful AmeriCorps program has become a national model in teacher education. The Boston Teacher Residency is focused on improving the most important school-based factor in addressing inequity: quality teaching. Boston Teacher Residency members serve in a math, science, English, or elementary classroom for a full school year, where they take on increasing responsibility for student learning and add significant capacity to personalize learning in the core curriculum. Through 1:1 conferring, small group work, and instructional activities such as the Interactive Read-Aloud or Guided Math, members help teachers differentiate instruction to reach students across various levels. They increase the amount of feedback and coaching that students receive each day. Because they are also enrolled in graduate-level teacher preparation courses, Boston Teacher Residency members learn and practice the full range of teaching responsibilities, including leading group work, accommodating for diverse learners, analyzing data, and building relationships with students and families.
Boston Promise Corps members serving in Dudley Promise Corps:
Dudley Promise Corps members provide 1:1 and small group academic support in STEM and literacy to a caseload of 10 students each who are performing below grade level. Each student receives a minimum of two hours per week of extra support during designated one-hour blocks during the expanded school day. Members use research-based curricula to address specific, high-leverage learning gaps identified by teachers via assessments. Dudley Promise Corps members are integrated into the school day, participate on teaching teams, and observe teacher practice so they can draw connections between the classroom and the extra support sessions.
Elementary Dudley Promise Corps members focus primarily on literacy to ensure that all students learn to read proficiently across all content areas. They use a proven curriculum
and training to help students who are reading below grade level to catch up. Dudley Promise Corps members utilize complementary curricula to address skill gaps in math, science, and literacy to prepare students for success in college and the workplace.
Community Need Addressed
Eliminating the deep and persistent achievement gaps that disproportionately affect students living in poverty and students of color in Boston Public Schools, and specifically two schools in the Dudley Promise Neighborhood.
Position Outcomes
Students served will have increased engagement in school and improve their academic performance in literacy and math. As a result: (1) Students will have increased high school graduation and employment rates. (2) Persistent achievement gaps that disproportionately affect students in the Dudley Promise Neighborhood will be reduced. (3) Boston will have a strong, diverse pipeline of well-trained teachers and civic leaders committed to education, a life of service, and the Dudley Promise Neighborhood.
Benefits
Childcare assistance if eligible, College Credit, Education award upon successful completion of service, Health coverage, Living allowance, Stipend, Student loan forbearance, Training
For AmeriCorps members serving in the Boston Teacher Residency, successful completion includes receipt of a Master's in Education.
Skills you will gain
In addition to attaining a Master's in Education degree for Boston Teacher Residency members and literacy or STEM content tutoring skills for Dudley Promise Corps members:
CPR/ first aid, child/human development, event planning,financial literacy, cultural competency, resume and interview skills, classroom management, lesson planning, community engagement.
Competencies You Will Develop
Communication
Demonstrate sensitivity and empathy, Listen to and consider others' viewpoints, Maintain open lines of communication with others, Write cleary and effectively
Creativity & Problem Solving
Able to identify and define the problem, Capable of generating possible solutions, Communicate the problem to appropriate personnel, Improvise
Teamwork
Develop constructive working relationships and maintain them over time, Establish a high degree of trust and credibility with others, Interact professionally and respectfully with supervisors and co-workers, Stay positive and outcome oriented, Use appropriate strategies and solutions for dealing with conflicts and differences to maintain a smooth workflow
Decisions
Accepts responsibility, Anticipate the consequences of decisions
Tools
Operate tools and equipment in accordance with established operating procedures, safety standards, and ethical guidelines
Planning
Able to prioritize various competing tasks, Create environment of contribution, Create plan of action, schedule tasks so that work is completed on time, Demonstrate the effective allocation of time and resources efficiently, Set goals
Service
Be pleasant, courteous, professional and respectful when dealing with internal and external customers or clients, Evaluate customer or client satisfaction, Honor the privilege of being able to work with and for those being served, Provide personalized, prompt, and efficient service to meet the requirements, requests and needs of customers, Recognize the importance of maintaining privacy and confidentiality of those being served, Understand and anticipate the needs of others, Understand the importance of one's role in the functioning of the organization