Empowering Students Through Promise Fellows

For the 2025-2026 school year, both New York Mills Public Schools and Perham Public Schools have been allocated a full-time Promise Fellow at no cost. This invaluable position is supported by the Otter Tail Family Services Collaborative and aims to help students achieve even greater success. The Promise Fellow will be hired through the MN Alliance with Youth, and they are seeking passionate individuals to fill these impactful roles.

 

What is a Promise Fellow?

A Promise Fellow is a dedicated individual who works directly with students, providing support and guidance to help them overcome challenges and reach their full potential. This includes academic assistance, mentorship, and connecting students with resources.

The Promise Fellows focus specifically on 15 to 30 students only, offering intensive support to teach and build healthy academic, attendance, and social habits with youth who are struggling to thrive. The Promise Fellows also work with the families of the youth, serving as a liaison between home and school. The Promise Fellows have time to invest more deeply than teachers can, given the number of students teachers must work with.

Promise Fellows are trained in research-based interventions and are prepared to serve 6th to 12th graders by building relationships and providing support. They coordinate and deliver academic enrichment activities, monitor student progress, develop engaging projects, and offer attendance and behavior coaching to promote positive behavior expectations. Promise Fellows work in every learning model imaginable and have demonstrated that their relationships with students are both meaningful and impactful. The Otter Tail Family Services Collaborative (OT FSC) ran a pilot program during the Spring semester with the Fergus Falls Area Learning Center (ALC) and Parkers Prairie Public Schools, which included a Promise Fellow. Both schools and the Promise Fellows reported significant improvements in school engagement and attendance to attendees at the OT FSC Annual Meeting in May 2025.

Benefits for Our Promise Fellows

These full-time, 40-hour per week positions offer a comprehensive benefits package designed to support our Promise Fellows as they serve our community:

Twice-Monthly Living Stipend: A pre-tax stipend of $1,236.36 for full-time Fellows. (A 30-hour per week option is also available at $1,066.67).

AmeriCorps Education Award: Upon successful completion of service, Fellows will receive an education award of up to $7,395.00. This award can be used for higher education expenses or to repay qualified student loans. Transferability: Under specific conditions outlined in the Serve America Act, if a Fellow is at least 55 years old at the start of service, they can transfer their education award to a child, stepchild, grandchild, step-grandchild, or foster child.

Health and Dental Care: Monthly premiums are 100% covered for full-time members, if applicable.

Child Care Assistance: Available based on family size and income.

Student Loan Forbearance: Eligible student loans can be paused during the service term.

Professional Development: Fellows will receive valuable training, including a Youth Mental Health First Aid Training Certificate and Motivational Interviewing Training, along with additional professional development opportunities.

Ongoing Support: Throughout their service term, Fellows will benefit from continuous cohort support and an AmeriCoach career coaching opportunity.

How You Can Help

If you know someone who would be an excellent fit for this exciting opportunity, please share the application link: https://mnyouth.net/americorps/join-the-corps/application/