Emanual “Manny” Maldonado discovered an academic path via a federal work-study program.
After transferring to UNL from Midland University, Maldonado was uncertain of what major to pursue. In a packet of information from UNL, a flyer about America Reads, America Counts, a federal work-study program that sends university students into elementary schools to assist with reading and math education, piqued Maldonado’s interest.
“I was sort of interested in teaching, so I figured why not start with America Reads, America Counts,” Maldonado said. “It seemed like a really good way to learn about classroom management while getting paid at the same time.”
President Bill Clinton launched America Reads in 1996 to enlist “one million volunteer tutors” for a national literacy campaign. With assistance from the National Science Foundation, the campaign expanded to include math assistance in 1997.
At UNL, the program was initially open to elementary education students and partnered with Lincoln Public Schools’ reading recovery program. In 1999, Craig Munier, UNL’s director of scholarships and financial aid, expanded the scope of the program.
“We went out and met with LPS folks and they felt there was real value in having college students working one-on-one and in small groups with elementary age children,” Munier said. “So, we kind of reinvented our America Reads, America Counts program to include students in all disciplines of study.”
Students who wish to participate in the program must interview at the start of the fall semester and be hired by representatives from each LPS school. In 1999, the program included four LPS elementary schools. Today, seven schools participate and UNL students work both in classrooms during the regular school day and in specialized before- and after-school programs.
“We have 15 tutors in each of the seven schools, for a total of 100 tutors working with elementary students every year,” Munier said. “In the last 16 years, UNL’s America Reads, America Counts program has had about 1,400 students participate, earning more than $1.5 million in wages.”
Michelle Suarez, who worked at Cavett Elementary when the program started and is now principal at Everett Elementary, said America Reads, America Counts is a win-win.
“Everyone who participates in this program benefits,” Suarez said. “Our students get a mentor and role model they can connect with and learn from. Along with getting paid, the college students strengthen their commitment to the community. And our staff appreciates having extra support providing one-on-one academic assistance in the classroom.”
Munier said the program is the perfect example of what a federal program should be.
“America Reads, America Counts provides two benefits from one federal dollar,” Munier said. “It helps low-income kids go to college and, at the same time, those kids are helping a whole generation of students be a little less at-risk in terms of reading and mathematics. It really is federal government at its best.”
Munier and Suarez said the program has resulted in UNL students changing majors or — like Maldonado — finding an academic path.
Maldonado is in his third year with America Reads, America Counts and preparing to become a secondary Spanish teacher. He said lessons learned at Everett have made him a better teacher.
“I get to teach these kids and see them improve but, honestly, I’ve learned quite a little bit from them,” Maldonado said. “America Reads, America Counts has been an amazing experience. I probably would have ended up in education without it, but my education would not have been quite as rewarding.”
For more information about UNL’s America Reads, America Counts program, contact Munier at craig.munier@unl.edu.
