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Americorps honors eight for service

By PAULETTE LASH RITCHIE
Published February 22, 2007

INVERNESS - Americorps Citrus Reads, a state-funded program that provides assistants for teachers to help students read, held an induction and recognition ceremony recently for current members.

Eight women were honored at the Citrus County Old Courthouse and sworn in as Americorps members.

Megan Bosanko, Christine Fox, Meghan Murphy, Melissa Payne, Tiffany Smith, Julia Taylor and Ashley Zannini are in their first year of the program. Carolyn Fink is in her second year and will graduate from it this year.

During the ceremony, Kathy Pomposelli, the district's coordinator of Title I and No Child Left Behind, discussed the benefits of the Americorps program.

The members benefit by receiving training and getting teaching experience. They receive a stipend and financial aid for college when they graduate from the program after committing to and completing one year, but they can commit for two years and receive more aid.

Students and teachers benefit from the individual attention members provide.

The school district may be the biggest winner. The program often produces teachers. At least five of this year's members say they plan to earn teaching degrees.

This was the ninth induction and graduation ceremony of Americorps in Citrus County. The members serve 16 to 21 students each, which adds up to hundreds over the past nine years.

After they finish this program, the members say they have the following plans:

- Megan Bosanko hopes to use her financial aid to earn bachelor's and master's degrees. She is working at Crystal River Primary School.

- Christine Fox plans to become a high school drafting teacher. She is at Crystal River Middle School.

- Carolyn Funk is enrolled at Central Florida Community College and is working toward a degree in elementary education. Her first year she served at Floral City Elementary School. This year she is at Lecanto Primary School.

- Meghan Murphy is taking night classes at CFCC and plans to join the Peace Corps after her two-year stint. She is at LPS.

- Melissa Payne attends CFCC and hopes to be an elementary school teacher. She is at Citrus Springs Elementary School.

- Tiffany Smith is attending CFCC and is working toward elementary education. She is at CRPS.

- Julia Taylor in interested in earning a business and human services degree. She is at CRMS.

- Ashley Zannini would like to be an elementary school teacher and is serving at CSES.

[Last modified February 21, 2007, 20:02:00]