The Fellowship

Reading Assist Fellows serve in Wilmington- and Dover-area elementary schools, providing one-on-one reading instruction to students in first through third grade who face significant reading challenges. Fellows teach foundational reading skills to students who might never learn to read through traditional classroom education.

Fellows are trained to be certified dyslexia practitioners, and teach at-risk, struggling readers in grades K-3. Fellows work with up to 8 students (4 students for part-time fellows) for 45 minutes each day, and meet with an experienced coach every week for support and feedback.

The Reading Assist Fellowship, an AmeriCorps program, requires 1,200 service hours to be completed between August 9, 2021-June 10, 2022.

Fellows start in August with five weeks of graduate-level training and then are embedded into low-income elementary schools in Delaware. Fellows transform the lives of students who may have dyslexia or other reading disorders.

Reading Assist Fellows receive many benefits, including:

• A $1,500/month living allowance ($1,000/month if part-time) 
• A $4,000-$4,200 education award (determined by the Pell Grant) upon successful completion of 1,200 service hours 
• Student loan deferment 
• Professional certification in reading intervention 
• Resume-building professional experience 
• Education sector exposure 
• Health benefits (if needed) 
• Childcare (if needed) 

*Members who are 55 years of age or older when they begin service may gift the education award to a child or grandchild. 

Read more on our Why Serve page.

We seek passionate, capable tutors willing to serve the students and the community. You do not need teaching experience, but you must be ready to commit to students for the entire school year.

• Willingness to commit to 10 months of service from August 2021 to June 2022, serving Monday-Friday from approximately 8 a.m.-3:30 p.m. in schools 
• Ability to blend, segment, and manipulate sounds within words 
• Willingness to work with children in K-3, including children who may have behavioral challenges in addition to academic needs 
• Interest in literacy, education, and community service 
• Demonstrate resilience, adaptability, and professionalism 
• Maintain a patient and flexible mindset 
• Openness to constructive feedback 
• Complete an AmeriCorps application
• Submit to background checks and fingerprints 
• U.S. citizen or permanent resident alien 
• College degree preferred 
• Proficiency in Spanish a plus