Reports To:                     Program Director

Department:                    Comprehensive Afterschool Program

Location:                         MS351K - Urban Assembly Unison School 

FLSA Status:                   Non-Exempt

Job Status:                      Part-Time. Eligible for NY Safe and Sick Leave

Pay Rate:                         $30 Per Hour

Schedule:                        Tuesday-Friday: 3:00pm-6:00pm

                                         (8hrs/week to Activity Specialist role and 4hrs/week to Education Specialist role)

 

WHAT WE DO

At LEAP, we believe in the transformational power of the arts. We started as a grassroots movement with just four schools. Today, our teaching artists serve 25,000 youth across the city in over 140 New York City public schools. Every day, our educational arts programs inspire diverse school communities to be more engaged in learning and build their critical skills. Our quality educational arts programs promote access and equity for New York City students underserved in the arts.

 

CULTURE STATEMENT

LEAP is a group of diverse and passionate individuals working together to prioritize youth and pursue our mission.

 

Our Goals

  • We collaborate to accomplish goals and are accountable to ourselves and others. 
  • We strive for excellence, reflect on results, and celebrate success.

 

Our Peers

  • We foster relationships through intentional communication and attentive listening. 
  • We welcome feedback with a growth mindset and offer feedback with empathy. 

 

Our Space

  • We build trust through transparency, honesty, and humility. 
  • We respect and attempt to meet each other’s needs at work.

 

Our Community

  • We are inclusive and value the differences among us. 
  • We listen to and acknowledge the voices of those we serve. 

 

JOB PURPOSE

We are seeking passionate, experienced Activity Specialists with a vested interest in arts and academic integration for long term teaching opportunities at our partner schools in all five boroughs. Activity specialists must have demonstrated previous experience in their trained specialty, ideally in NYC public school settings. We are seeking educators who share our belief in the power of experiential learning. LEAP Activity Specialists act as the lead instructors in LEAP after school programs. If you love working with children in the Arts, then this a great opportunity to share your passion for the Arts in our afterschool programs, summer programs and special projects in various areas.

 

Specialty Area(s): Drama, Dance, Music, Visual Arts, Chess, Culinary Arts, Fashion/Sewing, STEM, Performing Arts, News Media Arts, Athletics, etc.

 

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES AND ACCOUNTABILITIES

  • Plan and implement engaging and active lessons that combine the arts and academics.
  • Establish and deliver clear lesson objectives writing daily lesson plans using the LEAP lesson plan format and the LEAP Way.
  • Prepare your classroom and all materials prior to facilitating planned activities.
  • Promote positive character development, a love of learning, and a growth mindset through modeling and instruction.
  • Actively collaborating with group leaders to ensure they are implementing supervision best practices and managing program safety during large group active play and/or trips.
  • Assist children with daily homework assignments.
  • Make LEAP a visible and exciting part of the school community.
  • Aid in the organization and execution of student culminating performances and celebratory events.
  • Work closely with the program leadership to gather student data, attendance, assessment, and teaching documentation.
  • Work in collaboration with the daytime school community to help reach, meet, and build positive relationships with parents.

 

The Education Specialist’s primary purpose is the improvement of learning opportunities for students attending LEAP’s Afterschool Programs. The Educational Specialist is an on-site instructional leader who works in close collaboration with the Education Department, the Site Director/Coordinator, school leadership and LEAP Afterschool Managing Director to support front-line staff (Tutors, Group Leaders, Teaching Artists, and Activity Specialists) in the delivery of skill-based curricula and thematic projects. Their role is to support program instructional/enrichment goals by ensuring activities are structured, age-appropriate, aligned to school day instructional practices and model effective classroom management (as needed). The education specialist has the role of coach and consultant in advising the site director/coordinator, teaching artists, group leaders, and activity specialists who work within the after-school program.

 

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES AND ACCOUNTABILITIES

  • Ensures young people are experiencing Project Based Learning and Creative Youth Development best practices in every activity.
  • Ensures classroom instruction aligns to daytime academic quality standards during academic and enrichment activities
  • Ensures classroom instruction is closely aligned with daytime academic instruction in all core subjects
  • Forge collaborations with instructional staff to ensure that curriculum and instruction meet the needs of a diverse population of learners, is aligned with Common Core State Standards, and meets contractual expectations and benchmarks
  • Assist instructional staff with the planning and implementation of engaging, standards-aligned units, lessons, and projects
  • Work with instructional and administrative staff to set high and measurable goals for student achievement
  • Demonstrate an understanding and practice of the principles of positive youth development
  • Provides oversight of curricula implementation to support school day and arts instruction
  • Observes and provides feedback to activity specialists, teachers and tutors on a weekly basis providing advice and modeling lessons as needed
  • Maintains an observation/feedback log documenting help provided
  • Ensures activity lesson plans and projects are age-appropriate and have clear learning objectives
  • Assesses the effectiveness and success of the approved curriculum and recommends changes based on student work
  • Documents student progress and projects through multimedia e.g. photos from cellular phone
  • Coordinates the administration and implementation of academic assessments systems
  • Submits a summary report of student achievements at the end of each cycle to the Afterschool Program Director/Coordinator
  • Provides at least six hours weekly of on-site professional development based on the needs of the activity specialists, teaching artists, and group leaders
  • Attend all relevant meetings, trainings, workshops, outside events and organization-wide activities
  • Serves as an instructional coach and mentor for front-line staff
  • Plans and implements staff development as it relates to instructional strategies and classroom management

 

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

  • 2 years of experience working with youth in a classroom or group setting
  • Demonstrated excellence in their specialized instruction
  • Demonstrated Experience in Project Based Learning and Creative Youth Development best practices.
  • Experience successfully instructing youth in the arts
  • College degree in the Arts or Education, or equivalent experience
  • Familiarity working with Students with Disabilities and English Language Learners
  • Passion for inclusion and advocacy in the arts
  • Enjoy working with youth in a team environment
  • Effective writing, communication, and interpersonal skills
  • Must be punctual, responsible, resilient, and reliable
  • Self-motivated, highly efficient, and able to problem-solve
  • Proactive, hands-on approach, as well as a professional work ethic
  • Flexible schedule and willingness to travel to multiple boroughs
  • Able to pass all NYS SACC clearances and background checks inclusive of a work physical and TB

 

WHY YOU’LL LOVE LEAP

At LEAP, we are:

  • Committed to feedback and willing to provide clear, consistent communication
  • Community oriented, and believe in a shared moral responsibility
  • Believers in self-care and the wellbeing of others
  • Accountable to ourselves, our team, and the organization
  • Advocates for diversity, equity, and inclusion
  • Open-minded, creative, and flexible
  • Mission driven
  • Collaborative
  • FUN!!! 

 

PRE-EMPLOYMENT SCREENING

Pre-employment screening is required for this position, including but not limited to criminal history check by the NYC Department of Education, and other regulating agencies as needed per placement.

 

WE ARE AN EQUAL EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER

LEAP provides equal opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment and prohibits discrimination and harassment of any type without regard to age, citizenship, color, disability status, gender identity or expression, marital status, national origin, pregnancy, protected veteran status, race, religion, sexual orientation, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state, or local laws. This policy applies to all terms and conditions of employment, including recruiting, hiring, placement, promotion, termination, layoff, recall, transfer, leaves of absence, compensation, and training.

 

Please note:  In accordance with organizational policy, LEAP does not sponsor individuals on O-1 visas.

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