PEPP Reading

PEPP Reading partners with the Reading School District (RSD) in 6 sites -- Northeast Middle School, Southern Middle School, Southwest Middle School, Northwest Middle School, Reading High School, and a new site in the 2010-11 school year, The Citadel Intermediate High School. PEPP is offered to the RSD students after school at each middle school site on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays from 3 p.m. to 5 p.m. and at the Citadel and High School on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 3:10 to 5:00 p.m. RSD students are recommended into PEPP by a teacher or school counselor in their building based on the three "A's" of PEPP -- "Academics, Attendance, and Attitude."

PEPP Reading hires a Site Supervisor from each site who is a current teacher in the building and coordinates the Program at their site during the after-school hours in which the Program operates. For the 2010-11 school year, the following Reading School District teachers will serve as PEPP Reading Site Supervisors:

• Northeast Middle School -- Megan Sheeler
• Northwest Middle School -- Patricia Wealand
• Southern Middle School -- Kymberly Downer
• Southwest Middle School -- No PEPP at this site for Fall 2010
• The Citadel Intermediate High School -- Raymond Dobisesky
• Reading High School -- Anita Goodwin

                            
PEPP Reading also hires and recruits volunteers as PEPP Learning Assistants (PLAs) from the students at the Penn State Berks Campus.

On average, PEPP Reading hires approximately 35 students each academic semester. Many PLAs are majoring in education and utilize the PEPP experience as part of their Entrance To Major (ETM) requirement at Penn State. However, PEPP recruits PLAs from all majors on the campus. PEPP recruits PLAs twice during an academic year -- once in the beginning of the Fall semester and once in the beginning of the Spring semester. PLA candidates who successfully complete the initial interview process as well as returning PLAs are required to participate in a two-hour PEPP orientation before entering the sites for the semester. The PEPP semester generally runs for 9 to 10 weeks and follows the Penn State academic calendar. 

PEPP enrollment cuts across all segments of the population. There are approximately 200 RSD students enrolled as PEPP Participants from grades 7 to 12. The Reading School District has the largest concentration of Hispanics in the State of Pennsylvania with approximately 80% of its population being of Hispanic descent. PEPP Reading implements and participates in a variety of educational activities that highlights the vast Hispanic culture, history, achievements, and accomplishments.  The Partnership at Reading operates from the Penn State Berks Campus.

Using Technology to Communicate About PEPP

Many college students now communicate and share information and pictures via a social networking site called Facebook. PEPP Reading has developed a group on Facebook called "PEPP" (www.facebook.com -- search for "PEPP" under "Groups"). This group describes the overall purpose and activities of PEPP and is integrated into the Facebook network as PEPP Learning Assistants (PLAs), PEPP staff, and Site Supervisors are invited to join and contribute. Members can post comments about a specific experience they've had, ask/answer a question from another member by posting a topic on the Discusssion board, post photos of PEPP members/sites/events, post links to helpful websites, and add comments and notes. Current and past PLAs can also show their friends this group if they indicate an interest in PEPP. The PEPP group serves as a great interactive tool that keeps all of PEPP connected on a regular basis.

PEPP Reading has also had an active group on ANGEL for several years, which is maintained and updated regularly by the Administrative Support Assistant. It is currently the most efficient way to email a large group of PLAs about an event/change/deadline. In addition, we have posted most of our PEPP documents for PLAs, Site Supervisors, and PEPP students; photos of events; and upcoming events in the "Contents" section of the group. If you have a current Penn State account and you'd like to check out the PEPP Reading ANGEL group, please email Jackie Confalone at joc10@psu.edu and request to be added to the group.

PEPP Reading has also collaborated with the campus PSEA Education Club and the Reading High School FTA Club to join forces on specific goals such as gaining more interest from RSD students in the field of education.