Emporia State University and the USD 253 Board of Education established a partnership for the 2023-2024 Emporia State University AmeriCorps Host Site with USD 253 Jones Early Childhood Development Center this week.
As a part of the agreement, ESU will supply up to 15 AmeriCorps members who will provide services to students in the early childhood classrooms at JECDC for the 2023-2024 school year. ESU was awarded a grant from the Corporation for National and Community Service to administer the service and provide this opportunity for ESU students to serve in this capacity at JECDC.
AmeriCorps is a federal agency that brings volunteers together to help tackle the nation's most
pressing needs through national service and volunteering. One of the six AmeriCorps key focus
areas is education. AmeriCorps members who are placed at JECDC will provide small group
and one-on-one educational services for students.
"The Teachers College at Emporia State University is thrilled to add a partnership benefitting the
youngest learners at USD 253 and ESU students," said Tasia Markowitz, ESU’s AmeriCorps Coordinator. "The ESU AmeriCorps Members will benefit from the hands-on, high-impact experience while providing early literacy educational services. The members will be in their first couple of years at ESU giving them invaluable hands-on experience before they enter their teaching internships.”
Dr. Ryan Karjala, Emporia Public Schools’ Director of Assessments and Accountability, said, “This partnership with ESU will place more adults in the classrooms of our earliest learners and provide added opportunities for individual instruction.”
The Teachers College AmeriCorps members at Emporia State with receive bi-weekly funds for living expenses. Upon completion of the 2023-24 term, they will also receive the Segal Education Award
(https://americorps.gov/members-volunteers/segal-americorps-education-award).
“AmeriCorps provides high-impact services to address schools’ most pressing needs,” said Sara Schwerdtfeger, dean of The Teachers College at Emporia State University. “The partnership with Emporia State University, USD253, and AmeriCorps will provide education majors with experiences in public school. This will enhance their educational experience at ESU while providing a living wage to students in the program.”