Communities in Schools of North Carolina

AmeriCorps*VISTA (Volunteers In Service To America)

 AmeriCorps*VISTA is a program of the Corporation for National and Community Service a federal agency that improves lives, strengthens communities and fosters civic engagements through services and volunteering. VISTA offers service opportunities to those 18 and older without regard to race, color, national origin, disability, gender, sexual orientation, religion, political affiliation or other non-merit factors. Applicants must be US. Citizen, US nationals or lawful permanent resident aliens.

Communities In Schools of North Carolina, Inc. is recruiting for AmeriCorps*VISTA members with passion, commitment and dedication to increase the number of CIS students who graduate from high school and continue their education through Project Achieve.

Project Achieve:

An initiative to increase the number of CIS students who graduate from high school and continue their education in a 2 or 4 year college or university.

VISTA members will increase and promote post secondary education at the Performance Learning Centers: Cabarrus, Cape Fear Charlotte, Cumberland, Durham and at high schools in Greensboro and Rocky Mount.

Members Activities:

• Student Support and Assessment

     Monitor/assess/recommend intervention around attendance, academics and behavior

• Marketing

Create flyers, news articles, brochures

Collect press articles, photos

• College Tours

Identify community college/university of student interest

Set up college tours

Tour campus

Create survey for post evaluation tours

Identify funding

• Job Shadowing /internship opportunities

Identify student interests through career assessments

Meet local businesses/organizations to solicit opportunities for internships/apprentice ships

Identify speakers to come to school

• Recruit mentors

Match volunteers with students aligned with similar interest

 Job Requirements:

College graduate (career interest in education, social work, human services and counseling)

Contact:

Jan Handsome, VISTA Supervisor, Communities In Schools of North Carolina

Communities In Schools of North Carolina

222 North Person Street

Raleigh, North Carolina 27601

919-832-2700 ext. 109

919-832-4536 fax

jhandsome@cisnc.org

Communities In Schools, Inc. (CIS) is the nation's largest dropout prevention organization. Founded in 1997, CIS operates in 27 states and the District of Columbia serving 1.2 million elementary and secondary students in 3,200 schools. Communities In Schools was founded on the concept that students can achieve academically, when resources to address their academic and social service needs are tailored, coordinated and accessible.

Communities In Schools of North Carolina, Inc. is North Carolina's leading community-based organization; our mission is to connect the community resources with schools; Helping Kids Stay in School and Prepare for Life. CISNC has 40 affiliates, serving 163,928 students. CISNC believes that Every Child needs and deserves a....

• Personal, one-on-one relationship with a caring adult
• Safe place to learn and grow
• Marketable skill to use upon graduation
• Chance to give back to peers and community
• Healthy start and healthy future

 CIS Performance Learning Centers (PLCs) were developed to bring another learning option to local communities and their high school students. The centers work collaboratively with local school districts throughout North Carolina. PLCs serve high school students who are not succeeding in a traditional school setting. Students usually fall into the following categories:

• Lack of interest in a traditional school environment and are seeking another option to learn
• Experience poor academic achievement
• Are chronically late to or absent from school
• Are at high risk of dropping out of school

 The PLCs are located in off campus center and create a business like learning environment where students complete assignments using an integrated online and project based learning curriculum. The PLC staff uses the CIS philosophy to build a caring learning environment where students are challenged to meet their social and academic goals.