UNITE Service Corps (AmeriCorps)
Celebrating our 15th year
Kentucky AmeriCorps members serving with UNITE provide math tutoring and drug prevention education to elementary school students using the “Too Good for Drugs” curricula.
UNITE will engage 58 Kentucky AmeriCorps members at elementary schools in 23 school systems across 21 counties within its service region during the 2022-23 school year.
The “Too Good for Drugs” program has been found to be effective in decreasing a youth’s intention to use alcohol or other drugs. The lessons introduce and develop social and emotional skills for making healthy choices, building positive friendships, developing self-efficacy, communicating effectively, and resisting peer pressure and influence.
In addition, AmeriCorps members serving with UNITE volunteer as sponsors for anti-drug UNITE Clubs in their schools and recruit volunteers for school-based prevention programs.
End-of-Year Celebration
The UNITE Service Corps (AmeriCorps) program celebrated the end of another school year at the Mountain Arts Center in Prestonsburg on Friday, June 2. Special guest speakers for the event included Tiffany Mullins and her son, Cameron Worrix, Serve Kentucky Program Officer Andrew Stith, and UNITE Deputy Director Tom Vicini. A total of 58 members served elementary schools across southern and eastern Kentucky during the 2022-23 school year.
Success in the Classroom
Success of the UNITE AmeriCorps initiative is determined through pre- and post-test surveys evaluated by the University of Kentucky. But UNITE Service Corps members are also actively involved in helping their schools and communities.
2021-22 School Year
- 3,410 students received tutoring in mathematics. Math test scores for these students showed an average growth of 42.91% in math knowledge.
- 2,172 students were taught the evidence-based “Too Good For Drugs” curricula. Test scores for these students showed an average growth of 62.96% in drug education knowledge.
- 4,474 students were mentored by USC members in addition to math and “Too Good for Drugs” components.
- 341 volunteers (either one-time or reoccurring) were recruited to help in the schools. These volunteers provided 662 hours of service.
- All of the USC members were state certified in FEMA disaster and emergency response by the Kentucky Division of Emergency Management, enabling them to become leaders on local disaster response teams when the need arises.
- All USC members sponsored or co-sponsored a UNITE Club at their school.
- All USC members were Human Trafficking and ServSafe Food Handler certified.
A National Model
UNITE first began working with the Kentucky AmeriCorps program in May 2006 through a partnership with Eastern Kentucky University. Through this partnership, UNITE coordinated drug education programs and teacher trainings throughout the Fifth Congressional District for the 2006-07 and 2007-08 school years. UNITE received a grant to form its own “UNITE Service Corps” AmeriCorps initiative during the 2008-09 school year with 10 AmeriCorps members.
The UNITE initiative quickly expanded and was heralded “as a model to other rural counties across the country” in October 2012 by the head of the former Corporation for National and Community Service, now known simply as AmeriCorps.
2022-23 AmeriCorps members
serving with UNITE
Members are listed alphabetically by school system, then by school. Updated 2-10-2023
BARBOURVILLE INDEPENDENT (KNOX COUNTY)
Barbourville Elementary – Alexis Lebron
BELL COUNTY
Bell County Central Elementary – Chase Woolum
Yellow Creek School Center – Kimberly Turner
CARTER COUNTY
Prichard Elementary – Kristen Stewart
Tygart Elementary – Vacant
FAIRVIEW INDEPENDENT (BOYD COUNTY)
Fairview Elementary – Darla Caldwell
FLOYD COUNTY
Allen Elementary – Brittany Rodebaugh
Betsy Layne Elementary – Dorsa Justice
Prestonsburg Elementary – Amanda Hall
South Floyd Elementary – Miranda Johnson
John M. Stumbo Elementary – Shantana McCary
HARLAN COUNTY
Black Mountain Elementary – Samantha Bush
James A. Cawood Elementary – Amanda Brock
Cumberland Elementary – Amber Chappell
Evarts Elementary – Cassandra Boggs
Rosspoint Elementary – Baili Bailey
JENKINS INDEPENDENT (LETCHER COUNTY)
Jenkins Elementary – Jessica Tackett
JOHNSON COUNTY
Central Elementary – Mason Fairchild
Flat Gap Elementary – Nakiyah Butcher
Highland Elementary – Claudette Fairchild
Porter Elementary – Presley Grace McCormick
W.R. Castle Elementary – Tyler Trimble
KNOTT COUNTY
Beaver Creek Elementary – Emma Kate Thornsberry
LAUREL COUNTY
Hazel Green Elementary – Kaleigh Kinner
Hunter Hills Elementary – Richard Adams
Johnson Elementary – Lauren Marcum
LAWRENCE COUNTY
Blaine Elementary – Madison Nelson
Louisa East Elementary – Baden Gillispie
LESLIE COUNTY
Hayes Lewis Elementary – Amanda Mitchell
Mountain View Elementary – Caden Gilbert
Stinnett Elementary – Justin Collett
W.B. Muncy Elementary – Whitney Dixon
LINCOLN COUNTY
Crab Orchard Elementary – Anthony Shelton
Waynesburg Elementary – Vacant
MAGOFFIN COUNTY
Salyersville Grade School – Ben Cole
MARTIN COUNTY
Inez Elementary – Abigail Crum
OWSLEY COUNTY
Owsley County Elementary – Vacant
PAINTSVILLE INDEPENDENT (JOHNSON COUNTY)
Paintsville Elementary – Lisa Blevins
PIKE COUNTY
Belfry Elementary – Rebecca Kidd
Bevins Elementary – Cortney Dixon
Dorton Elementary – Chandra Stewart
Elkhorn City Elementary – Kelsi Slone
Feds Creek Elementary – Sabrina Thacker
Millard Elementary – Eden Griffith
Mullins Elementary – Hannah Robinson
Phelps Elementary – Barbara Darnell
Valley Elementary – Eryn Bartley
PULASKI COUNTY
Southern Elementary – Hannah Maher
ROCKCASTLE COUNTY
Brodhead Elementary – Addison McClure
Mount Vernon Elementary – Candace Mahaffey
Mount Vernon Elementary – Kristen Taylor
Roundstone Elementary – Karen Barron
WHITLEY COUNTY
Oak Grove Elementary – Rebecca McKiddy
Pleasant View Elementary – McKinley Chute
WOLFE COUNTY
Campton Elementary – Summer Ferguson
Red River Valley Elementary – Debra Arnett
Rogers Elementary – James “Jim” Manning
UNITE Service Corps Contacts
Crystal Smallwood
USC Director
csmallwood@centertech.com
606-369-4408
Benji Hammons
USC Program Manager
bhammons@centertech.com
606-312-3441
Marionette Little
USC Program Staff Assistant
mlittle@centertech.com
606-234-5341
Kim Tackett
USC Program Staff Assistant
ktackett@centertech.com
606-616-3577
What is AmeriCorps?
In the fall of 2020, the federal agency responsible for AmeriCorps and Senior Corps programs, the Corporation for National and Community Service, officially became “AmeriCorps” in the first major update to the agency’s identity in a quarter century. As part of this rebranding initiative, all national service programs are united under a unified AmeriCorps identity and promoted under the AmeriCorps or AmeriCorps Seniors banner. This effort streamlines opportunities to serve for all Americans, at a time when their help is needed most.
Listen to comments about the value of Operation UNITE’s youth initiatives, including the UNITE Service Corps (KY AmeriCorps) and UNITE Clubs, to help prevent the abuse of all substances – including drugs, tobacco, alcohol and marijuana. Comments were recorded during a Hooked On Fishing-Not On Drugs (HOFNOD) program at the Fishy Business Pay Lake in Pike County on May 25, 2016.