Sibley Elementary School has been awarded a position as part of a state reading-education program. Now, it is seeking someone to fill the role.

Minnesota Reading Corps places AmeriCorps members who are trained reading tutors into schools. Minnesota Reading Corps presently has a recruitment goal of 400 reading tutors for the 2009-2010 school year.

Sibley Principal Ross Williams said the program is a good fit for Sibley. The school’s faculty and staff have an intervention program to provide research-based assistance to students having trouble learning and to identify possible learning disabilities. The method is called “response to intervention,” and RTI is an emerging means of academic intervention in the United States.

Williams noted the Albert Lea School District is moving toward an RTI model.

“Knowing we are moving there as a district, it made me say, ‘Wow! If we can get something like this, let’s give it a go,” he said.

Reading Corps, Williams said, has the same focus of getting students in kindergarten through third grade “to where they should be” by the time they leave third grade. And, he said, it provides enrichment for students who excel.

“Reading Corps provides another person to help us get there and meet our goal,” he said.

Now Sibley faculty and staff hope they are awarded a Reading Corps member. And Reading Corps hopes it gets enough applicants. Williams said if the school gets one, it will be a great opportunity for students.

The application process is done online through Minnesota Reading Corps. The site is www.minnesotareadingcorps.org. Click on “Become a member.”

Williams has no involvement in the hiring process — the positions are placed — but said he would be glad to field any questions people have. The number for Sibley is 379-5080.

The program coordinator for Minnesota Reading Corps in southeast Minnesota is Lisa Klossner. Her number is (507) 287-2020 Ext. 269.

The position begins with training in August and would continue until school lets out in June 2010. There is money to be earned for college or for repaying student loans, a living allowance, the possibility of child-care reimbursement and, for full-timers, health insurance. Members have the option of deferring student loans while in the program. Plus, members end up with extensive training and experience in literacy instruction.

For the 2008-2009 school year, Minnesota Reading Corps placed 367 AmeriCorps members in 161 Minnesota schools.

“Despite last year’s successes in recruiting and placing more members in the state’s schools than ever before, it quickly became apparent that we needed to ramp up our efforts even more in 2009,” said Sheila Piippo, director of the Minnesota Reading Corps. “There’s still a huge need for trained people to help Minnesota children learn this critical skill.”