UNITE Service Corps (AmeriCorps)

Celebrating our 16th year

UNITE will engage 62 Kentucky AmeriCorps members during the 2023-24 school year. These members will serve 55 elementary schools in 22 school systems across 21 counties within its service region. In addition, Kentucky AmeriCorps members will serve as interns during the summer of 2024.

Kentucky AmeriCorps members serving with UNITE provide math tutoring and drug prevention education to elementary school students using the “Too Good for Drugs” curricula.

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.

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.

2022-23 School Year

  • 3,557 students received tutoring in mathematics. Math test scores for these students showed an average growth of 45.8% in math knowledge.
  • 2,252 students were taught the evidence-based “Too Good For Drugs” curricula. Test scores for these students showed an average growth of 53.4% in drug education knowledge.
  • 6,985 students were mentored by USC members in addition to math and “Too Good for Drugs” components.
  • 162 volunteers (either one-time or reoccurring) were recruited to help in the schools. These volunteers provided 324 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.

The UNITE Service Corps (AmeriCorps) program held an orientation for 2023-24 members in Pikeville August 29-31, 2023. The session included participating in a baby blanket service project for the Appalachian Pregnancy Care Center.

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.

2023-24 AmeriCorps members

serving with UNITE

Members are listed alphabetically by school system, then by school. Updated 1-16-2024

BARBOURVILLE INDEPENDENT (KNOX COUNTY)
Barbourville Elementary – Johnathon Mills

BATH COUNTY
Owingsville Elementary – Willie Mae Jones

BELL COUNTY
Bell County Central Elementary – Chase Woolum
Lone Jack School Center – Spencer Marcum

CARTER COUNTY
Heritage Elementary – Olivia Bond
Heritage Elementary – Amber Lowe
Prichard Elementary – Taylar Middleton

ELLIOTT COUNTY
Elliott County Intermediate – James Gillum

FAIRVIEW INDEPENDENT (BOYD COUNTY)
Fairview Elementary – Darla Caldwell

FLOYD COUNTY
Allen Elementary – Clydea Romans
Betsy Layne Elementary – Mike Howard

Prestonsburg Elementary – Lindsey Emmons
South Floyd Elementary – Miranda Johnson

HARLAN COUNTY
Cumberland Elementary – Tyler Simpkins
Evarts Elementary – Cassandra Boggs
James A. Cawood (JACES) Elementary – April Southerland

JENKINS INDEPENDENT (LETCHER COUNTY)
Jenkins Elementary – Barbara Johnson

JOHNSON COUNTY
Central Elementary – Mason Fairchild
Flat Gap Elementary – Cameron Wright
Highland Elementary – Grace McCloud
Porter Elementary – Allie Case
W.R. Castle Elementary – Tyler Trimble

KNOTT COUNTY
Beaver Creek Elementary – Tara Tackett

LAUREL COUNTY
Camp Ground Elementary – Katie Miller
Hunter Hills Elementary – Deven Hampton
Johnson Elementary – Emmalee Jones
London Elementary – Taylor Huff
Wyan-Pine Grove Elementary – Brooklyn Turner

LAWRENCE COUNTY
Blaine Elementary – Haley Ratliff

LESLIE COUNTY
Hayes Lewis Elementary – Amanda Mitchell
Mountain View Elementary – Caden Gilbert
Stinnett Elementary – Chanceler Sizemore

W.B. Muncy Elementary – Whitney Dixon

LINCOLN COUNTY
Crab Orchard Elementary – Brittany Stinnett
Waynesburg Elementary – Dalton Carrier

MAGOFFIN COUNTY
Salyersville Grade School – Makinlee Howard

MARTIN COUNTY
Inez Elementary – Hannah Robinson

MORGAN COUNTY
Morgan Central Elementary – Brittany Wolford

PAINTSVILLE INDEPENDENT (JOHNSON COUNTY)
Paintsville Elementary – Kaitlyn Adams

PIKE COUNTY
Belfry Elementary – Cynthia Kidd-Adkins
Bevins Elementary – Cortney Dixon
Dorton Elementary – Faith Newsom
Dorton Elementary – Michael Pickett

Elkhorn City Elementary – Kelsi Slone
Feds Creek Elementary – Sabrina Thacker
Johns Creek Elementary – Christina Slone
Kimper Elementary – Erica Burton

Millard Elementary – Skylar Sanders
Mullins Elementary – Hannah Robinson
Phelps Elementary – Barbara Darnell
Valley Elementary – Talisa Case
Valley Elementary – Eden Hamilton

ROCKCASTLE COUNTY
Brodhead Elementary – Addison McClure
Mount Vernon Elementary – Hallie Brown
Mount Vernon Elementary – Kristen Taylor
Roundstone Elementary – Kaden Kidwell

WOLFE COUNTY
Campton Elementary – Summer Ferguson
Red River Valley Elementary – Ava Collier
Rogers Elementary – Vacant

Apply to be a UNITE Summer Intern.

Deadline is Friday, April 5, 2024.

2023 AmeriCorps Summer Interns

Eli Goodlett, Laurel County
Jacob Massey, Clay County
Taylor Payne, Knox County
Nathan SIler, Knox County
Peyton Smoot, Laurel County
Emily Sturgill, Rockcastle County

UNITE Service Corps Contacts

Crystal Smallwood
USC Director

csmallwood@OperationUNITE.org
606-369-4409

Marionette Little
USC Program Staff Assistant

mlittle@OperationUNITE.org
606-234-5341

Benji Hammons
USC Program Manager

bhammons@OperationUNITE.org
606-312-3441

Kim Tackett
USC Program Manager

ktackett@OperationUNITE.org
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.