Fighting Poverty with Passion


The Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction seeks to close the achievement gap and to help all children succeed in our schools by involving parents and the community at large in the educational process. One way the DPI is going about this is through our VISTA program.

Our VISTAs facilitate and enhance school partnerships with their communities by developing and implementing effective partnership practices.

This isn't really a cookie-cutter program, so what VISTAs do looks different at every site. Some examples of the work you could do as a VISTA follow:

• Participate in an assets mapping project.
• Help develop staff and parent development workshops.
• Enhance relationships with staff, volunteers, parents, and others that will help sustain programs beyond the VISTA's term of service.
• Develop infrastructure necessary for project sustainability.
• Help establish an effective and comprehensive communication system for the school community.
• Help families understand school structure and to feel welcome in the school.
• Coordinate the recruitment and training of tutors and/or mentors.
• Communicate regularly with volunteers to discuss their work and address any concerns.
• Help in offering learning activities and events for the whole family.
• Include parents and other community members in facilitating children's learning outside of school activities.
• Recruit families and other community members to volunteer in school events, after school, and tutoring programs.
• Encourage parents to participate in school activities.
• Involve local service groups in the school.
• Recognize and celebrate community involvement in schools.
• Promote school partnership efforts through various media, such as local newspapers, radio stations, or community bulletin boards.
• Write grant proposals to support partnership activities.
• Start an after-school program.
• Monitor and help evaluate progress of, and challenges faced by, the Action Team as related to its Action Plans and outlines.

We are currently hiring approximately 15 positions throughout the state. The hiring deadline is June with a start date in mid August. VISTAs are asked to commit to a one-year term of service and are not allowed to hold another job or attend school while serving. To see what is going on at our current projects check out our website! http://www.dpi.state.wi.us/fscp/vistahmp.html

To Apply: Go to the AmeriCorps website https://recruit.cns.gov and apply online.

You will need the program ID# for the DPI: WI451823-0 (Milwaukee program: WI451823-15).

Just follow the "How to Join" and "Apply Now" links and use the DPI's program ID# when prompted.

Benefits When you serve for a full year in AmeriCorps
•VISTA, you receive:
• A Monthly Living Stipend (between $833 and $865 per month), health coverage, child care (if eligible-maximum is $300/month), 10 personal and 10 sick days
• Relocation allowance, depending on the distance of the move
• $4,725 Education Award with student loan deferment OR a $1,200 cash stipend at end of service
• Professional trainings, which are held both by the DPI and AmeriCorps
•VISTA
• Experience in a field that interests you, not to mention an immense boost to your résumé. Dawn Follendorf VISTA Leader Dept. Of Public Instruction 125 S. Webster St. Madison, WI 53707 (608)266-7112

VISTA is looking for experienced, energetic individuals who want to make a full-time, year long commitment to fight poverty. If you’re retiring soon, already there, or want to take a year off for a year of service, VISTA may be for you. Living allowances and other benefits are provided. More About VISTA