America Reads Open Doors to Jobs for Students

Thanks to the America Reads program, Hocking College early childhood education students now have the opportunity to put their budding teaching skills into action.

What is America Reads?

America Reads is a federally-funded incentive program designed to help children improve their reading skills by the time they reach the third grade.

Developed by the Clinton Administration in 1997, America Reads also provides college students who are eligible for Federal Work-Study programs with opportunities for employment as reading tutors.

How are students from Hocking College taking part?

According to Susan Dietz, the early childhood education program manager, students in her program who meet certain expectations will be eligible to apply for eligible positions at local libraries in Albany, Athens, Chauncey, Nelsonville and Logan.

Dietz noted that, besides tutoring, students could also decorate bulletin boards in support of reading themes, shelve books, create promotional materials and read to small children.

She added that while America Reads might “open some doors” for her students, “it’s their responsibility to apply for these jobs and hopefully get themselves hired.”  

Dietz is excited that these jobs will give her students opportunities to “use the knowledge they acquired in their classes and apply it to some real world situations.”

Students, Summer Accord, Tamiah Austin, Colton Dixon, Autumn Mayle, Tiffany O’Brien and Serenity Powell, are all currently working in local libraries.

O’Brien now works at the Logan library and appreciates “the creative part of working at the library.” She said, “I get to read to the little kids and do many different crafts with them.”

Am I eligible to apply for one of these jobs?

Students who are interested in applying for one of these Tier III positions needs to contact the Hocking College Career & University Center and meet the following set of criteria:

• Be a full-time student in the Early Childhood Education Program
• Meet the academic status guidelines
• Pass a criminal background test.

For more information on applying for an America Reads position contact Career Services Student Employment Manager Robert Bowser by email at bowser@hocking.edu or by phone at 740-753-6120.