Four Austin High School graduates interested in education are helping boost children’s literacy levels through AmeriCorps VISTA (Volunteers in Service to America) for eight weeks.

Either college students or recent grads, VISTA members Tom Wendroth, 22; Shannon Smith, 22; Megan Erickson, 21; and Emily Wermager, 22, began preparing their lessons this week at the Austin Community Learning Center.

“This is mainly meeting all the people we’ll be working with,” Erickson said.

The VISTA members will work 40 hours per week until Aug. 14 and are paid a living allowance. They are not allowed to hold other jobs.

“Since I’m an elementary education major, it’s a big help to work in the school this summer,” Erickson said.

The four applied for the VISTA Summer Reads literacy program to gain experience for teaching jobs or working with children.

“This really is such an important part of education,” Smith said of the literacy focus. “It’s really important they learn to read after third grade,”

Their job will be to work mornings at summer school — two will work at Ellis Middle School and two at Woodson Kindergarten Center — and then at other places in the community in the afternoon, like Apple Lane Community Child Care, Bremerton Townhomes, Kids Korner and the Municipal Pool. Each VISTA member will work one-on-one with three to four children each day.

“Our goal is just to reach as many kids as possible,” Smith said.

Each Friday, the VISTA members will attend training in the Twin Cities. They also received 500 books to hand out to children for free.

“It’s really neat what AmeriCorps is doing,” Smith said.