Higher Achievement, a nationally acclaimed nonprofit organization working to close the achievement gap for motivated, yet underserved students from low-income communities, seeks part-time Literacy Aides for its afterschool program. The Literacy Aide is assigned a cohort of 12-16 scholars with similar reading levels and is responsible for ensuring scholars develop a love of reading and teaching social and emotional learning skills linked to college success and persistence and English Language Arts skills aligned to grade-level standards. Under the direction of the Learning Director and using Higher Achievement’s curriculum, Literacy Aides work with scholars to improve their reading and comprehension, writing, vocabulary and listening/ speaking skills. This position is a wonderful opportunity for individuals who are interested in working with middle school students during a critical time in their education. Higher Achievement will provide training and ongoing support.
Literacy Aides will work with their cohort of scholars in a classroom and ensure the scholars are making progress in different learning stations. Scholars will be assigned to various stations such as homework help, online math support, community project completion, book club, etc during their time according to the scholars’ needs. The majority of the time the Literacy Aide will support small groups of scholars as they work through their stations. Our academic curriculum and activities are grounded in our four social justice pillars—voice, freedom, justice, and solidarity. Community Meetings incorporate discussion of current events through a social justice lens, and during mentoring, scholars engage with articles related to the four themes. Scholars are encouraged to live out the pillars during program, such as using their voice by making decisions at center.
Our program is designed to complement the school day’s instruction and support scholars’ individual needs. As we enter the fall of 2021, we are working to support scholars’ post-COVID educational recovery. The Literacy Aide is expected to work from 1-2 Higher Achievement Centers, up to 4 days a week (Monday-Thursday), from approximately 3:30-6:00 pm. All training and technology for use at center will be provided. All training will be paid, including: Literacy Instruction, Risk Management, Building Positive Culture, and Youth Development. If the organization needs to move to providing virtual instruction due to school or district measures, the hours for this position MAY be reduced or suspended depending on school district schedule and size of our scholar rosters.
The Organization
Higher Achievement believes that talent is everywhere, but opportunity is not. We work to close the achievement gap for motivated - yet underserved - students from low-income communities. We intervene during the critical transition to middle school by providing year-round, multi-year support for students in the 5th – 8th grades. As students prepare to graduate from our program in the 8th grade, we help them transition successfully to advanced high school programs that keep students on track for college.
Founded in 1975 in Washington, DC, as a grassroots effort to create learning opportunities for children in low-income neighborhoods, Higher Achievement has impacted the lives of more than 10,000 young people and currently operates achievement centers in Washington, DC, Alexandria, VA, Baltimore, MD, Greenbelt, MD, and Richmond, VA. Higher Achievement’s award-winning model of rigorous academic mentoring, individualization of services, and comprehensive academic support is guided by leading research for effective out-of-school time programs.
More information about Higher Achievement may be found at: http://www.higherachievement.org.
Key Duties and Responsibilities
Literacy Support
· Ensures cohort of 12-16 scholars meet English Language Arts skills and social and emotional learning (SEL) targets that prepare them for college-preparatory high school programs. This includes ensuring scholars make progress toward reading at or above grade level and maintaining or improving SEL indicators.
· Use Higher Achievement’s online literacy platforms to implement lessons and activities for 3-4 literacy stations that incorporate SEL strategies, Higher Achievement’s Social Justice Pillars (Voice, Freedom, Justice and Solidarity) and Common Core English Language Arts standards.
o The literacy program provides individualized nonfiction reading content to students and focuses on building phonemic awareness, phonics, fluency, reading comprehension, vocabulary, and writing skills.
· Ensure classroom operates safely, smoothly, and follows Higher Achievement’s program model. This includes creating a classroom culture that develops a love of reading, builds on Higher Achievement’s social justice pillars and is youth-focused.
· Follow Higher Achievement’s risk management procedures, including behavior management, during literacy blocks and throughout center.
· Collaboratively work with staff and volunteers that are supporting other scholars at centers.
- Communicate any scholar academic and/or behavior issues with Learning Director in a timely manner and when needed, under the direction of the Learning Director, communicate with families regarding their child’s progress.
· Incorporate feedback from Learning Director on how to improve literacy sessions.
- In addition to these primary duties, will also support general center operations, and ensuring adequate scholar to adult ratios.
The duties listed above are intended only as illustrations of the various types of work that may be performed. The omission of specific statements of duties does not exclude them if the work is similar, related, or a logical assignment to the position.
Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities
- Commitment to the mission and work of Higher Achievement
- High school diploma or equivalent required; current college students encouraged to apply
- Experience with data entry and/or administrative tasks strongly preferred
- Experience working with youth required; experience working with middle school students in a classroom setting is strongly preferred
- Experience managing groups of up to 15 middle school students is strongly preferred
- Strong oral and written communication skills with ability to communicate professionally and effectively with staff, scholars, and families
- Comfortable with technology
- Bilingual (English/Spanish) a plus
Higher Achievement Core Competencies: Higher Achievement values our core competencies, and as such, we expect that competitive applications will be able to demonstrate strengths in these areas:
- Relationship Building
- Candid Communications
- Pursuit of Excellence
- Growth Mindset
- Solutions-Oriented
Compensation and Benefits: The hourly rate for this seasonal, part-time, non-exempt position is $20 per hour and is commensurate with skills, experience, and certifications. As a seasonal, part-time position, this role is not eligible for company benefits outside of those required by federal, state, or local laws.
Physical Requirements and Work Environment: Work is regularly performed in a school setting. Employee may spend long periods of time sitting, standing, and walking. Must be able to walk from one part of the worksite to another and climb stairs. Employee regularly lifts, carries, and positions objects weighting up to 20 pounds. Position involves regular use of a computer and keyboard, telephone, and face-to-face communication in small and large group settings with youth and adults; employee must be able to communicate clearly and professionally in all of these situations. Employee must have visual, auditory, and physical ability to respond quickly to critical incidents involving students and act in an emergency situation.
Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
Additional Information: The Center Aide works four days per week (Monday-Thursday), from 3:30 – 6:00 pm, with some variation possible depending on the center assigned.
Background Check & Clearance Requirements: This position requires a criminal background check prior to hire, and candidate must be able to pass all additional clearance requirements as mandated by school districts and state/local municipalities. Higher Achievement pays for all clearance steps for its employees.
Covid-19 Update: Higher Achievement requires proof of FULL Covid-19 vaccination for all Higher Achievement employees. *Effective 1/1/22 FULL Vaccination will mean that staff who are *eligible* to receive a booster shot as per current CDC guidelines link here will need to provide proof of receiving a Covid-19 booster shot, in addition to proof of having received the primary vaccination series. Unless an accommodation has been granted by HA, proof of vaccination is required before employment may begin.
To Apply: Please submit your application by visiting. Visist https://higherachievement.org/about/careers/ Select Job Board, and locate the Center Aide position, and select the city of interest. Click Apply Now! Interested applicants are encouraged to apply immediately; priority consideration will be given to all applicants who apply by August 5th, but the position will remain open until all spots are filled. Please, no phone calls, emails or recruiters.
Note: An application is not complete and will not be considered until your signature is provided at the last step of the application process and submitted through our application portal.
The hiring process consists of a brief online application, followed by a 20-30 minute phone interview and a 45 minute Zoom interview. Candidates must be able to provide 3 professional or educational references when applying. Candidates must be eligible to work in the United States to be considered for this position.
Start Date: This position is anticipated to start is September 19th, 2022, for paid training.
Higher Achievement provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants without regard to race, color, ethnicity, religion, national origin, ancestry, gender, sex, gender identity or expression, age, medical condition, sexual orientation, marital status, citizenship, pregnancy, physical or mental disability, genetic information, veteran status, military status, caregiver or family status, political affiliation, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state, or local laws.
ACHIEVEMENT CENTER LOCATIONS
Baltimore
Mount Royal: The Mount Royal School: 121 McMechen St, Baltimore, MD 21217
Lakeland: Lakeland Elementary Middle School: 2921 Stranden Rd, Baltimore, MD 21230
Highlandtown: Highlandtown Elementary/Middle School: 231 S Eaton St, Baltimore, MD 21224
Richmond
Boushall: Thomas C. Boushall Middle School: 3400 Hopkins Rd, Richmond, VA 23234
Henderson: Henderson Middle School: 4319 Old Brook Rd, Richmond, VA 23227
Binford: Binford Middle School: 1701 Floyd Ave, Richmond, VA 23220
DC Metro
Alexandria: Francis Hammond Middle School: 4646 Seminary Rd, Alexandria, VA 22304
Greenbelt: Greenbelt Middle School: 6301 Breezewood Dr, Greenbelt, MD 20770
Ward 1: Meridian Public Charter School, 770 Kenyon Street NW, Washington, DC 20010
Ward 4: Ida B Wells Middle School: 405 Sheridan St NW, Washington, DC 20011
Ward 5: Brookland Middle School: 1150 Michigan Avenue NE, Washington, DC 20018
Ward 6: Eliot-Hine Middle School: 1830 Constitution Avenue NE, Washington, DC 20002
Ward 7: Kelly Miller Middle School: 301 49th Street NE, Washington, DC 20019
Ward 8: KIPP AIM DC, 2600 Douglass Rd SE, Washington DC 20020
Details at a Glance
TIME COMMITMENT
Part Time ScheduleJOB TYPE
TemporaryEDUCATION
High School Diploma RequiredEXPERIENCE LEVEL
Entry level
COMPENSATION
Level of Language Proficiency
English language proficiency required; Spanish proficiency a plus
Location
How to Apply
Please submit your application by visiting, https://higherachievement.org/about/careers/ Select Job Board, and locate the Center Aide position, and select the city of interest. Click Apply Now! Interested applicants are encouraged to apply immediately; priority consideration will be given to all applicants who apply by August 5th, but the position will remain open until all spots are filled. Please, no phone calls, emails or recruiters.
Note: An application is not complete and will not be considered until your signature is provided at the last step of the application process and submitted through our application portal.
The hiring process consists of a brief online application, followed by a 20-30 minute phone interview and a 45 minute Zoom interview. Candidates must be able to provide 3 professional or educational references when applying. Candidates must be eligible to work in the United States to be considered for this position.
The hiring process consists of a brief online application, followed by a 20-30 minute phone interview and a 45 minute Zoom interview. Candidates must be able to provide 3 professional or educational references when applying. Candidates must be eligible to work in the United States to be considered for this position.