Prime Time
Looking for a rewarding volunteer experience with kids in local schools? Want to beef up your resume to help qualify for admission to the College of Education? Prime Time, a partnership between WOU and Central School District 13J (located in Monmouth and Independence), offers opportunities to work one-on-one with K-12 students in the school district's after-school program. WOU provides training and places candidates at six schools in the district. Placements are two afternoons a week during the academic year. Candidates can request placement at an elementary, middle or high school. Once placed, participants tutor reading, math, English and writing.
Who is eligible
Western Oregon University pre-education candidates who plan to apply to a teacher education program are invited to apply for Tutor Academy. Note that fingerprinting is required before working with K-12 students and tutors must be able to arrange their own transportation.
Benefits
- We'll train you in two hour-long sessions.
- Help local youths do better in school.
- Work with experienced school employees who can provide you support.
- Opt to earn university credit in an Early Field Experience Service Learning course.
- Open doors for yourself by gaining experience with bilingual students.
- The two-day a week schedule should work with your university classes.
- Be eligible for future paid positions as a tutor (at work study rate).
- Complete your term as tutor before WOU final exams.
- Beef up your resume/portfolio with a certificate of recommendation from the district.
- Meet College of Education admission requirements for experience with youths.
Program hours and evaluation system
Placements are available two days a week, either Monday and Wednesday or Tuesday and Thursday. Elementary school tutors work 2:45 to 5:15 p.m. and middle and high school tutors work 3:20 to 5:50 p.m. Each tutor reports to the school's site supervisor, who will answer questions and evaluate the tutor at the end of each term. Also, tutors will be asked to evaluate their own performance. During the evaluation the site supervisor will recommend whether the tutor will continue tutoring, based on performance and behavior.
How to apply
Applications are accepted to tutor during fall, winter and spring terms (not summer). Potential candidates will receive an e-mail about Tutor Academy along with an attached application that includes deadlines. Once an application is received the candidate is interviewed and may be hired. Link to printable form: Application and agreement
Work into a paid position
The first term of participation is volunteer, unless a candidate receives work study, but if the tutor is asked to return for subsequent terms it becomes a paid position. Tutors work two days a week, either Monday and Wednesday or Tuesday and Thursday. Once tutors begin their second term with the program, they can work no more and no less than two days a week in order to get paid. Any time above or below two days is considered volunteer.