Whitewater Times

The Watertown Unified School District continues to support its students with the assistance of Reading Corps, an AmeriCorps tutoring program. Since its inception in Wisconsin in 2015, Reading Corps has reached over 18,000 students across various communities. In the 2023-24 school year alone, AmeriCorps members served as Reading Tutors for 113 students in Watertown.

Webster Elementary School is currently seeking an additional Reading Tutor to join their efforts this school year. Principal Brad Clark emphasized the program's impact: “Over the years, our partnership with Reading Corps has had a tremendous impact on students, and their progress demonstrates this.” By the end of last school year, more than 73% of Watertown students involved in the program exceeded target growth.

Tutors conduct approximately 70 sessions per student annually, averaging 75 minutes weekly. Research supports that these efforts lead to significant academic gains. Itzel Galindo, executive director of Reading Corps in Wisconsin, stated: “We see students making more than a year’s growth in a single school year.”

Reading Corps tutors work at local schools for 25-35 hours each week and receive a stipend equivalent to about $15 per hour. They also benefit from educational awards applicable towards tuition or loans and may qualify for health insurance and childcare assistance.

Webster Elementary is one of five elementary schools within the district serving PK-5 grades. More tutors are needed for the upcoming school year; interested individuals can apply at join.readingandmath.org.

Reading Corps operates nationally as part of AmeriCorps' mission to connect people through service and address pressing challenges across the country.