AmeriCorps Youth Literacy Specialist

Job Overview

Position Summary

 

AmeriCorps - Youth Literacy Specialist

Example Contract dates:

• September 2nd, 2025 – August 8th, 2026  (50 Week Contract);
• September 15th, 2025 – August 22nd, 2026 (50 Week Contract)

*Contract start and end dates are flexible and rotate on a bi-weekly schedule 

Closing Date: September 9th, 2025

Description: 

AmeriCorps is a national service program that takes a different approach to improve lives and fostering civic engagement. AmeriCorps Members commit their time to address critical community needs.  In Dubuque, AmeriCorps Members serve at the intersection of education and mental health to help youth understand their emotions, reactions, and relationships through social-emotional learning to improve academic, career, and social success. City of Dubuque AmeriCorps Members implement key skill-building program to have the following impacts:

1. Youth experience programs promoting healthy lifestyles resulting in decreased youth risk-related behaviors. 

2. Youth development skills to build meaningful and healthy relationships while experiencing being valued and respected.

3. Providing every young person with the opportunity to grow up safely and access their best possible future.

The Youth Literacy Specialist will play a crucial role in supporting academic and social-emotional learning for youth in the Dubuque community through the Carnegie Stout Public Library. This position aims to provide community connections, healthy opportunities, and engaging literacy activities year-round. This vital role involves developing programs, implementing them, evaluating their impact, and reaching out to a broad representation of youth populations .The Youth Literacy Specialist focuses on supporting Pre-K-12th grade youth, helping them navigate their out-of-school time in meaningful ways. This position will lead programming for pre-school youth, elementary, middle, and high school students, build relationships with disadvantaged youth and their families, connect talents and interests to potential literacy, and create sustainable support systems within the community.

Benefits:

• Education Award received upon successful completion of their term of service.
• Living Allowance
• Health care
• Childcare coverage, if the member qualifies.
• Student loan forbearance and interest payments for eligible loans

 

Job Duties

 

Service Responsibilities:

1. Program Development and Implementation:

1. Develop and implement engaging 30-minute preschool storytime to twelve area underserved preschool classes every month. Use of puppets, dancing, and general silliness is encouraged.

2. Collaborate with the Youth Services Manager and library staff to plan and provide fun and engaging literacy-based and social-emotional-based library programs for youth and families at the Carnegie-Stout Public Library.

3. Plan and present entertaining and educational outreach initiatives to youth and families in the greater Dubuque community using colored paper, fabric, yarn, and other crafting materials.

4. Develop connections with non-profit daycares, after-school programs, Dubuque Community School District students and staff, and other organizations that support literacy development.?

5. Carry out developmental activities that promote personal skill-building in areas such as self-awareness, self-management, social-awareness, relationship skills, personal responsibility, goal-directed behavior, decision-making, confidence, and optimistic thinking.

6. Coordinate, schedule, and maintain the monthly Bright Beginnings Book of the Month Outreach Service.

2. Impact Assessment and Documentation:

1. Document and maintain records of the impact on area youth who participate in programs through weekly data-reporting processes.

2. Collect data and feedback to evaluate program effectiveness and identify areas for improvement.

3. Personal Skills Development Outcomes

1. Complete comprehensive training on preschool storytime, where the AmeriCorps member will learn to balance education and entertainment principles to present engaging learning experiences to preschool students.?

2. Develop a comfort level with public speaking by presenting storytimes, programs, and outreach opportunities to children.

3. Learn and utilize Canva graphic design program, Microsoft Suite, Brain Fuse, Koha, and other library-related computer programs to market library events.

4. Actively build skills in graphic design, writing, speaking, organization, and computer-program usage.

5. Learn and utilize general business tools such as telephones, copy machines, printers, paper-cutters, three-hole punch, die-cut machine, and various tools in the library’s MakerSpace.

6. Effectively contribute to a team through collaborative programming and assisting as necessary.

4. Volunteer Management:

1. Recruit, manage, monitor, train, and document volunteer involvement with teen programming.

2. Coordinate with volunteers to support the implementation of activities and ensure a safe and supportive environment for participants.

3. Collaborate with local colleges and community leaders to recruit volunteers and mentor to support Teen Empowerment programming throughout the school year and summer months.

5. Disaster Response (AmeriCorps-Disaster Response Team)

1. Participate in A-DRT training(s) to ensure the member has knowledge and ability to respond to disasters.

2. Complete other training necessary to support disaster deployments, including but not limited to Volunteer Reception Center (VRC), first aid, mental health first aid, and chainsaw training.

 

Qualifications

 

Physical Requirements: 

• Walk and carry materials up and down steps.

• Stand and walk for extended periods of time.

• Lift 30 pounds.

• Bend, squat and kneel.

Desired Skills/Qualifications:

• Must be competent in working with at-risk youth, teenaged youth, and communities facing barriers.

• Applicant must have a personal vehicle for outreach programming and appropriate car insurance for mileage reimbursement.

• Applicant must be creative, energetic, dependable and a self-starter.

Eligibility Criteria:

• Must have a high school diploma or equivalent OR agree to obtain one while under service to the AmeriCorps Program

• Be 17 years or older at the start of service (no upper age limit).

• Pass a national service criminal history check prior to first day of service due to reoccurring access to vulnerable populations.

• Hold one of the following citizenship statuses: US citizen, US national, or Lawful Permanent Resident.

 

Supplemental Information

 

Service Schedule: 

The Youth Literacy Specialist’s scheduled hours may fluctuate based on Programming scheduled throughout the year. Typical schedule: Mon - Friday: Serve flexibly between the hours of 8am - 7pm, and one weekend a month. Opportunities for weekend hours or special events may become available during the year.

Example schedule for illustrative purposes:

• Monday: 10am – 6pm
• Tuesday: 12pm – 8pm
• Wednesday: 9am – 5pm
• Thursday: 10pm – 6pm
• Friday: 9am – 5pm
• Saturday: Off
• Sunday: Off

Leave: Sick leave, personal leave, and holiday leave is allowed, but such time off does not count towards the required number of hours needed to successfully complete the term of service. There are additional benefits offered if the member has a compelling personal circumstance.

Disaster Deployments: Member who opt-in to be engaged in disaster deployment/activities will need to ensure availability for the term of the disaster deployments, generally 2-4 weeks.  Make plans for pets, family members, other employment and responsibilities that need regular attention.

Evaluations and Alternative Service
AmeriCorps Members are required by the program to complete Self-Evaluations.

Mid-Term Evaluations: At the member’s halfway point during their term of service, the member will complete a self-evaluation and their Site Supervisor will complete an evaluation on the member through America Learns. The member and site supervisor will meet, with or without Program Staff, to discuss the evaluations in-depth. These evaluations must be submitted to the AmeriCorps Program.

End-Term Evaluations: Upon the completion of their AmeriCorps Contract, all members will complete an End-Term Evaluation through America Learns. The End-Term Evaluation must be completed, signed, and submitted to the AmeriCorps Program within 30 days of the member’s final date of service. Non-submission of this document within the 30-day timeframe will lead to the member being exited for cause (see section 9 of the Member Service Agreement) and will forfeit the member’s right to the Education Award.

Members may engage in other allowable activities that are not specifically outlined in the position description, but that support the AmeriCorps program design, and which will help the Program meet its goals. Under no circumstances will members be asked to perform prohibited activities. Volunteers recruited and/or managed by AmeriCorps members will not participate in prohibited activities as outlined in the approved grant application.

APPLICATION: Apply online by visiting our website, www.cityofdubuque.org/employment

Questions? CONTACT: City of Dubuque AmeriCorps Program

Phone: 563.690.6171 Email: americorps@cityofdubuque.org

*AmeriCorps member will receive education award in the form of an electronic payment through my.americorpgs.gov upon the successful completion of their AmeriCorps Contract. Education award may be used to pay educational costs at eligible post-secondary educational institutions or qualified student loans. Members who are 55+ years of age can transfer award to child or grandchild under specific conditions.

Note: AmeriCorps Members are compensated through the national AmeriCorps program and are not considered employees of the City of Dubuque.