Immediate Openings: Cumberland County Schools Seeks Additional Tutors to Accelerate Student Literacy Support

Cumberland County Schools (CCS) is partnering with North Carolina Education Corps (NCEC) to accelerate learning for young readers through high-impact tutoring. Applications are open for everyday citizens to pursue a paid part-time opportunity to support elementary school students as a literacy tutor.

Qualified candidates may include college students, recent graduates, parents, community members, and former educators who have flexible schedules (weekly time commitment: three days and 15-25 hours in the classroom) and a desire to make a difference.

Visit http://nceducationcorps.org/application to apply for a tutoring position.

In partnership with Cumberland County Schools, NCEC will train tutors to provide effective support for students based on evidence-based practices. Tutors are employed directly by the school district, with a commitment to serve for the 2022-23 school year.

Launched in September 2020 with the support of the North Carolina State Board of Education, the Office of the Governor, and local school systems, NCEC was established to help extend the reach of teachers to fill critical learning gaps.

As members of the NCEC, tutors work with one to three K-3 students at a time to improve students’ foundational reading skills and expand teacher capacity.

CCS Superintendent Dr. Marvin Connelly, Jr., noted how this partnership strengthens the bond between the district’s schools, students and community. “Literacy is one of the main pillars of learning. This partnership allows the district to expand learning opportunities and provide another layer of academic enrichment for students.”

Prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, just 36% of North Carolina’s fourth-graders were reading at grade level. Test results from the past two years show young readers in North Carolina falling further behind, due to lost instructional time and other stressors.

This widening gap highlights the critical opportunity to step up and accelerate learning for students through high-impact tutoring.

"We just can't overstate the importance of learning to read for success in school and beyond, and the data from last year are a sobering reminder of the challenge we face, especially in the early grades," said State Superintendent of Public Instruction Catherine Truitt.

NCEC is also supported by public-private partners, including the C.D. Spangler Foundation, Mebane Foundation, Goodnight Educational Foundation, SECU Foundation, and the North Carolina General Assembly.

“North Carolinians are coming together to accelerate learning recovery in the wake of the pandemic,” said NCEC Executive Director John-Paul Smith. “They are coming together to close education opportunity gaps that have been around for far too long. We are grateful for the perseverance and spirit of hardworking, service-minded people across the state, and we invite North Carolina residents to step up to give teachers and students the critical help they deserve.”

For more information about North Carolina Education Corps or to apply for a high-dosage tutoring position, visit http://nceducationcorps.org.