Become a Mentor

Current Mentors

Partner Schools

Policies

Hiring and Promotion Policy

America Reads*America Counts is an equal opportunity employer.   It is the policy of America Reads*America Counts to base appointments, retention, pay raises, and promotions solely on qualifications and performance, as outlined in the Federal Work-Study Student Employment Program Job Classification and Pay Wage Guidelines.   Discrimination on the basis of race, color, religion, age, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, and disability is not tolerated.

Criminal History Disclosure

Before placing America Reads*America Counts employees in the school environment to work one-on-one with children, the University of Maryland requires that each employee submit a notarized Criminal History Disclosure Statement and current fingerprinting records.  Students who are under eighteen years of age when they begin their employment with America Reads*America Counts must have a parent or adult legal guardian sign the document in the presence of a notary public.   These employees must submit a notarized, updated Criminal History Disclosure Statement when they turn eighteen.  Each employee is required to submit an updated, notarized Criminal History Disclosure Statement if there should be any changes in or additions to his or her criminal history, until such time as the participant’s involvement in the program ceases.

Appointment Duration

America Reads*America Counts employees are hired for a minimum period of one semester and may be invited to return to the program for future semesters.   America Reads*America Counts employees are expected to honor the work term commitment.   Only under very unusual circumstances should this commitment be terminated.   There is no implied commitment to renew or continue an appointment beyond the current semester.   Continuation of an appointment beyond the appointed term is at the discretion of the America Reads*America Counts staff.

Position Levels

America Reads*America Counts currently offers four Federal Work-Study mentoring positions which vary in tutoring type, degree of expertise, commitment, and responsibility involved.   Promotion to a higher level involves increased responsibility, specialized expertise, and/or more extensive experience.

Additionally, the America Reads*America Counts office is staffed by Federal Work-Study student employees who have been Mentors but can no longer be placed in the elementary schools because of their class schedule.   At the end of each semester, available office positions will be posted to the listserv.   These positions pay $13.00 per hour.   Specific job duties will be flexible to take full advantage of the many talents of our office staff and to fulfill current office priorities.

Wage Rates

Wage Increases

Reading/Math Mentors: Contingent upon reinvitation to the program, Mentors are eligible for wage increases in subsequent semesters, up to a maximum rate of $12.00 per hour.   Beginning with the Spring 2001 semester, pay rates will be based according to the following scale:

Wage increases are based upon performance in the program and are not guaranteed.

Work Schedules

Work schedules must be submitted by America Reads*America Counts employees prior to each academic term and are subject to approval by the Program Coordinator.   The elementary schools participating in America Reads generally begin instruction at 8:00 a.m. and end at 2:00 p.m. Therefore, the hours worked by each Reading Mentor must fall between these hours, Monday through Friday.   Mentors must schedule their work hours on at least two separate days each week and in blocks of two hours or more.   Employees may set their work schedules at any time within these constraints and around their scheduled classes.   Team Leaders are required to work a minimum of eight hours each week and, in general, their schedules should satisfy the same conditions described above.   America Counts, as an after-school tutoring Program, operates three days per week, Monday through Thursday, between 2:00 p.m. and 5:00 p.m.   Math Mentors are required to follow the schedule of their assigned school and may work additional hours as arranged with Program staff.

Work Hours

A minimum of six mentoring hours per week is required of all Mentors.   Team Leaders must work a minimum of eight hours per week.   All America Reads*America Counts employees are required to attend Training and Development sessions, as scheduled, in addition to their weekly work commitment.   Students may work up to 20 hours per week during the Fall and Spring semesters and up to 40 hours per week during the summer and semester breaks.   The combined total of hours worked by students employed in one or more departments on campus cannot exceed the above limits.   Overtime (more than forty hours a week) is not permitted.

Attendance Policy

Regular attendance on the part of the Mentors is crucial to the success of this program.   Research shows that the effectiveness of tutoring/mentoring sessions depends to a large extent on their consistency.   Therefore, America Reads*America Counts employees are required to abide by a rather stringent attendance policy.   Our expectation is that each Mentor will conscientiously keep to his or her schedule.   That is, we expect that Mentors will work all hours for which they are scheduled and will have no absences.   Of course, we realize that absences cannot always be avoided. (e.g. – illness, car troubles).   Our attendance policy allows for four (4) absences during the semester.   With respect to absences, each mentor is required to let both the America Reads*America Counts staff and Site Supervisor know in advance when they will be absent.   Failure to call will count as two absences.   A copy of the official America Reads*America Counts Attendance Policy is included in the appendix of this handbook.

Performance Appraisal

A performance appraisal is completed at the end of each semester for all America Reads*America Counts employees.   When possible, the evaluation will be shared with the employee and will be made available for viewing upon employee request.   Performance appraisals will be used to identify employee strengths as well as areas where improvement is needed.  

E-Mail

All America Reads*America Counts employees are required to keep abreast of developments and remain in contact with the America Reads*America Counts staff through e-mail.   Employees are responsible for checking their e-mail regularly to receive America Reads*America Counts information, verify dates, times, and locations of upcoming events, and may also be used by Mentors as a method of reflecting upon experiences as a Corps member.   E-mail communication will be conducted through the America Reads or America Counts Listserv, to which all employees will be subscribed.

Mentor Pledge

All America Reads*America Counts employees are required to read, sign, and adhere to the Mentor Pledge for each semester they are employed through the program.   The Pledge outlines America Reads*America Counts policies and procedures and details the responsibilities of student employees.  

Record Keeping

All America Reads*America Counts employees are required to keep complete and accurate records of what transpires during each mentoring session.   Reading Mentors will complete a Daily Logs and Weekly Reports to note activities for each part of the lesson plan.   These documents will then be used to plan future sessions, as a reference to gauge the improvement of the mentee, and as a means of evaluating the Mentor.   Math Mentors are required to complete a Daily Log for each of their students and also submit Progress Reports on a bi-weekly basis.   It cannot be stressed enough how important it is for Mentors to complete all forms accurately and completely.

Site Orientation

Before they can begin their mentoring sessions, all student employees must participate in a site orientation.   During this orientation, supervisors provide emergency reporting procedures as well as general information, including a building tour, to help familiarize the employee with the site.   Orientations may be conducted on an individual or group basis.   Mentors will be paid for participation in this work experience and may expect their orientation to last approximately one hour.  

Dress Code

America Reads*America Counts employees should remember that while on site, they represent the University of Maryland.   Therefore, employees should wear neat, clean clothing whenever they meet with their mentees and may not wear hats, ripped or torn garments, or clothing. All employess are responsible for knowing and adhering to the dress code policies established by ARAC, Prince George's County Public Schools, and the individual school sites.

0144 Holzapfel Hall | College Park, MD 20742 | Phone: 301-314-READ | Fax: 301-314-7365 | arac@umd.edu

	ARAC Home | History | Our Staff | Stamp Student Union | Community Service-Learning Maintained by AR*AC Staff Direct questions and comments to arac@umd.edu