Information for PEPP Learning Assistants (PLAs)

A PEPP Learning Assistant is a Penn State Berks Campus student who is hired by PEPP Reading to tutor and mentor students in the middle and high schools of the Reading School District, with the primary goal being to prepare them for post secondary education.

The Role of the Learning Assistant

PEPP Learning Assistants (PLAs) are traditionally hired from first-year and second-year Penn State Berks campus students, many of them education majors. PEPP staff make presentations about PEPP Reading to both faculty and students at the beginning of each semester in classes, orientation sessions, and division meetings to recruit PLAs from all majors. Students must then complete applications, be interviewed by the Program Manager and Site Supervisors, and complete PEPP orientation prior to being a PLA at one of the school sites.

PEPP serves as a supplemental “hands-on” pre-service teacher experience for the College of Education’s undergraduate students as part of their Entrance to Major (ETM) Requirement. PLAs must present a Lesson Plan in addition to tutoring, mentoring, helping with homework, planning/coordinating PEPP student ideas and projects, and learning about classroom management in a diverse urban school environment.

PEPP Reading hires students from many majors other than education, including engineering, biochemistry, life science, global studies, communication arts/professional writing, theatre, and IST (information science & technology). Having PLAs from a variety of majors has allowed PEPP to offer different tutoring strengths (i.e., math, science, communication arts) for the PEPP students at Reading School District.

Below are links to the PLA Application for PEPP Reading, as well as other documents that give further information on the rules and reponsiibilities of PLAs.