Looking for a meaningful way to have a positive impact on a child's life?
Want an easy way to give back to your community? Join Power Readers as a mentor!
Power Readers is a one-on-one mentoring program that connects volunteers with elementary school students to read together for one hour a week. No lesson plans, no testing. Instead, through weekly sessions with a caring mentor, children become stronger readers, more confident individuals, and find joy in reading.
Power Readers mentors are matched with a student at the start of each school year. The mentor and student then spend an hour a week together, reading books and stories of their choice. Mentors must be able to attend weekly in-person Power Readers sessions at their selected school. With school holidays, class trips, and other scheduling events, the commitment is for approximately 18-20 hours over the course of a school year. Consistent attendance is a requirement.
Learn more about what it means to be a Power Readers mentor below or email us at volunteers@everybodywinsdc.org.
What our volunteers say about being a Power Readers Mentor:
SCHOOL YEAR 2025-26 POWER READERS SESSION SCHEDULE
Coming soon! School schedules will be available August/Septemeber 2025.
2300 Key Blvd., Arlington, VA
1150 5th Street SE, DC
1001 G Street SE, DC
810 26th St. NE DC (This is the school's temporary location during renovations.)
Thomson Elementary School
1200 L St. NW, DC
2101 Fairland Rd, Silver Spring, MD (This is the school's temporary location during renovations.)
VOLUNTEER CLEARANCE
Power Readers mentors must hold an active volunteer clearance from the jurisdiction in which they plan to mentor. For example, a mentor who reads with a DCPS student needs to obtain a volunteer clearance from DCPS. The clearance process is external to EWDC and varies depending on the jurisdiction. More information can be found in our EWDC Clearance Guide. If you have any questions or need assistance, please email volunteers@everybodywinsdc.org.
- Clearance Application for DC Public Schools. Process includes an application and fingerprinting. Volunteers will be issued a clearance letter from DCPS that is valid for 2 years.
- DCPS Mandated Reporter Training. DCPS is now requiring our volunteers to complete this training as part of their clearance responsibilities.
- Clearance Application for Montgomery County Public Schools. Process includes a short training video. Upon completion, MCPS will issue a grade report. The clearance is valid for 3 years.
- Clearance Application for Arlington County Public Schools. Process includes an application and short training video. Upon completion, APS will issue a certificate that is valid for 3 years.
*Schools do not provide EWDC with completed clearances. Volunteers must send a copy of their clearance to volunteers@everybodywinsdc.org. Once EWDC has proof of clearance, a volunteer can be matched with a student.
Frequently Asked Questions
When does the Power Readers program year begin? When does it end?
Power Readers is aligned to the school year, with sessions starting in October and running through May. New mentors can join the program in October, November, and December of each program year. There are no sessions on holidays or school breaks.
Will I read with more than one student during the year?
No. Mentors are matched with one student each year. It's this time spent together that helps students build literacy and social-emotional skills. Once matched, reading pairs can stay together each year until the student leaves the program or graduates from elementary school.
How are students selected to participate in Power Readers?
We work with our partner schools to identify students who would benefit from Power Readers. School teachers and staff can recommend children who: need to build literacy and/or language skills, need encouragement to develop a passion for reading, need social-emotional support, and/or would benefit from a relationship with a caring adult
What happens during a Power Readers session?
Typically, a Power Readers session will start with a few minutes for the students to eat lunch while chatting and catching up with their mentors. Then the students and mentors can select what they want to read and enjoy their time reading together! Usually this will entail 40-50 minutes of active reading and/or other reading-based activities.
What is co-mentoring?
EWDC offers volunteers the opportunity to partner with a friend or colleague to share mentoring responsibilities. Both mentors would be matched with the same student and the volunteers can alternate weekly reading sessions.
Is there a requirement to undergo a background check?
Yes. Power Readers mentors must complete and maintain a background clearance from the jurisdiction in which they plan to read (DC, Arlington, Montgomery County). These processes are external to EWDC and vary depending on the school district.
Can I use my federal clearance in place of the DCPS clearance requirements?
In part, yes. While all volunteers must complete the volunteer application, DCPS allows individuals who have an active secret or top-secret federal security clearance to complete a Federal Security Clearance Verification letter in lieu of being fingerprinted. The signed verification form and a copy of a state issued photo ID should be emailed to dcps.clearance@k12.dc.gov. There is no similar process for Arlington or Montgomery County.
Do you provide training and support for mentors?
Yes. All Power Readers mentors must complete a program orientation and are provided additional training and support by EWDC staff. In addition, EWDC staff is on-site at each Power Readers school and supports each session to ensure reading pairs have the support they need.
