Michigan's AmeriCorps Site Supervisor of the Month

Site Supervisor of the Month – April 2026:  Melissa Sayles, Michigan Education Corps

In addition to being an educational professional and instructional aide at Battle Creek Montessori Academy, Melissa Sayles is also the AmeriCorps internal coordinator for the Michigan Education Corps volunteers who serve at the site. The Michigan Education Corps (MEC), administered by Hope Network, is a replication of the transformational Minnesota Reading Corps. AmeriCorps volunteers advance more than 3,000 students toward becoming proficient readers by the end of 3rd grade.

Sayles has been in the educational field for 30 years and is passionate about helping students achieve their potential.  When being partnered with MEC as an internal coach, Sayles had little knowledge of AmeriCorps but was thrilled to help others excel in the profession. 

According to current volunteer and reading interventionist, Liza Gutierrez, Sayles is committed to help the AmeriCorps volunteers learn best practices to be an effective interventionist. During a particularly difficult lesson for students, Sayles met with the volunteers ahead of time to practice new techniques for engagement, so they felt comfortable and familiar before interacting with students. Sayles also pulled from her own experience to provide ways for the interventionists to redirect their student with nonverbal cues so that the lesson could run smoother.

Guiterrez remarks that having Sayles as a mentor has been instrumental in her career growth, stating that “Sayles is a kind, friendly person who supports her school's MEC interventionists by being the voice between staff and AmeriCorps volunteers.”  Sayles makes her volunteer’s professional growth a priority by meeting with volunteers as a group at least once a week and letting them know of upcoming school events, providing fidelity checks to ensure volunteers feel comfortable and confident with interventions, and by being a resource for volunteers to grow in their skills and knowledge.”

When asked what her favorite moment of working in schools, Sayles remarked that “it's watching students walking back to class from tutoring, ‘smiling with their heart,’ feeling capable, and knowing they have someone who has their back and will support them. 

Learn more about the Michigan Education Corps and other Michigan’s AmeriCorps programs making a positive impact in communities across Michigan. For more information about AmeriCorps, visit www.americorps.gov.