Satterly Named Dubuque's AmeriCorps Program Director

CONTACT: 
Marie Ware
Leisure Services Manager
563-589-4264 (office)
563-564-7566 (cell)
mware@cityofdubuque.org
www.cityofdubuque.org

Dec. 12, 2017 -- For Immediate Release

DUBUQUE, Iowa  –  City of Dubuque Leisure Services Manager Marie Ware has named Heather Satterly as the City of Dubuque’s new AmeriCorps Partners in Learning Program Director.  She will begin in mid-December and replaces Mary Bridget Corken-Deutsch, who was hired as a School Connections Specialist with the Dubuque Community School District (DCSD). 

As AmeriCorps Program Director for Dubuque, Satterly will work closely with agencies including but not limited to the Dubuque Community School District, Multicultural Family Center, Carnegie-Stout Public Library, St. Mark Youth Enrichment, and Leisure Services programs.  She will work with recruitment, training, and retention of over 50 AmeriCorps members each year as well as a new summer teen program.  
 
Satterly comes to Dubuque after serving Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Mississippi Valley, where she was the AmeriCorps Program Director and Youth AmeriCorps Program Manager assigned to the City of Davenport.   She also served as an AmeriCorps member for three years focusing on adaptive and inclusive recreation activities including programming for at- risk youth, low-income families, persons with disabilities, and seniors.  Satterly holds a bachelor of science degree in recreation, parks, and tourism administration with a specialization in recreation therapy from Western Illinois University.   

“In her previous experience, Heather established positive working relationships with community partners, community members, and other stakeholders to provide new opportunities for AmeriCorps members and the program,” said Ware.  “Her successful work with the school district and community non-profits will allow her to step in quickly and take Dubuque’s AmeriCorps program to the next level with partners.”

The City of Dubuque’s Partners in Learning AmeriCorps Program has been extremely successful in its 15 years of operation.  The partnership with the school district and community partners resulted in 89 percent (or 508 out of 571) of DCSD students tutored by AmeriCorps members improved their reading score from fall 2016 to spring 2017.  Additionally, 88 percent of DCSD students tutored by AmeriCorps members had an attendance rate of 90 percent or more during the 2017-2018 school year.  
 
“We look forward to the continued success impacting the lives of children and families throughout Dubuque,” said Ware. “AmeriCorps members have performed invaluable service to this community with many of them going on to leadership in a variety of roles in Dubuque.  Heather has the skills and experience that will continue the excellence established in Dubuque’s AmeriCorps Partners in Learning Program.”

For more information about Dubuque’s AmeriCorps Partners in Learning Program, visit www.cityofdubuque.org/americorps.


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