UNITED WAY OF DANE COUNTY - ACHIEVEMENT CONNECTIONS VOLUNTEER POSITION DESCRIPTION
VOLUNTEER POSITION TITLE: Math Coach + Tutor
REPORTS TO: AmeriCorps Member, Program Manager, Program Director
AVAILABLE SCHOOL PLACEMENTS: East HS, West HS, Memorial HS, La Follette HS
APPLY HERE: Volunteer Interest Form
Achievement Connections is an AmeriCorps program with four math tutoring centers at local MMSD high schools. Led by a team of AmeriCorps members and volunteers with support from program and school staff, these tutoring centers provide one-on-one support to a diverse set of students striving to improve in Algebra 1 and Geometry. Together with our partners, we aim to help students graduate, and in doing so, help close opportunity gaps to make Dane County a better place to live.
Achievement Connections believes in all staff and volunteers modeling and practicing the skills and habits we expect of our students. Our program strives for enjoyable, yet rigorous tutoring sessions based on a belief in students’ assets, rather than their deficits. The structure and expectations of our staff and volunteers detailed below is based on these beliefs.
KEY RESPONSIBILITIES ● Build relationships with students within an asset based, Positive Youth Development model ● Provide academic math coaching, tutoring, and support to students ● Provide essential support to program coordination, administration, resources, and capacity ● Attend and/or complete required volunteer coach training as well as required MMSD volunteer training ● Maintain timely communication with program staff and tutor coordinators ● Abide by school and program policies ● Maintain appropriate boundaries with students
INITIAL IMPACT ● Volunteer Math Coaches + Tutors often make an immediate impact on a student’s upcoming tests and assignments, as well as their in-class performance. Additionally, volunteers provide critical support of the overall capacity of the tutoring program by supporting the essential functions of coordinating tutors, supporting students in attending tutoring sessions, compiling resources, and supplementing administrative tasks.
SUSTAINED OUTCOMES ● Volunteer Math Coaches + Tutors often make long term impacts on students’ attitudes toward math and academics, their Social Emotional Learning skills, their confidence as a learner, and maintaining a stable GPA throughout the academic year. Furthermore, volunteers strengthen the ongoing school-program partnership by increasing tutoring capacity and contributing to the quantity and quality of available resources.
TRAINING ● Volunteers will participate in required MMSD district training, math curriculum and tutor manual training, as well as be offered opportunities to engage in ongoing training around a variety of relevant topics.
SUPPORT ● Volunteers will receive support from their AmeriCorps member tutor coordinator(s) as well as program staff through scheduled check-ins, on-site coaching, and one review each semester.
COMMITMENT ● Minimum 2 hours per week ● Minimum 1 academic year ● Tutoring occurs during school hours, typically between 8:30a - 4:30p. ● Volunteers may be expected or have the opportunity to attend a small number of training events. ● Volunteers will be able to identify which of the 4 available high schools they would like to support. ● Volunteers will be matched with 1 or more students at their chosen school.
SKILLS AND QUALIFICATIONS ● Ability to develop meaningful, appropriate relationships through an asset based, Positive Youth Development model. ● Some tutoring or high school age youth experience is preferred, but not required ● Familiarity with Algebra and Geometry and a positive attitude toward math is typically ideal ● Communication skills including timeliness and empathy ● Some technology skills preferred, but not required ● Willingness to learn and be of service
BENEFITS ● Volunteers will receive the benefits of spending quality time building meaningful relationships with students in their community ● Opportunities for networking and ongoing learning ● Connection to school and community
