The Associate ACM position is responsible for helping to create and implement a high quality Beyond School Program. This part-time position requires someone who is skilled not only with communication, scheduling, and logistics, but also is able to connect with students and families, alike. The primary focus of the Associate’s work with scholars revolves around the scholars’ academic and social/emotional growth and getting them to cultivate habits that will result in life-long success. They must be able to respond with positive, appropriate behavior, even in frustrating situations with at-risk youth. The Associate reports to the Beyond School Site Coordinator. This person must be willing to take direction, voice ideas in a respectful manner, and function as a team member with other Beyond School team members.
Service Activities
Responsibilities
● Participate in Beyond School Team meetings and Professional Development/Service Trainings to develop and implement a high-quality program
● Service hours include: Beyond School Program time 3:00-6:15, Monday-Friday; remaining hours outside of program times used for planning, admin, transportation and meetings, requiring ~20 hrs/wk until mid July; flexibly 2:30 p.m.-6:45 p.m. Monday-Friday (may serve 4 to 5 days/week, but must serve ~20 hours total/week)
● Foster a safe, respectful, and welcoming environment for our scholars, parents, staff, and volunteers
● Work with team to implement the Beyond School Culture Manual policies
o Uphold Beyond School scholar expectations
o Serve with fellow Beyond School team members as a consistent and fair disciplinarian for our scholars
● Communicate regularly, effectively, and kindly with parents
● Attend open houses/parent conferences/parent events, including Family Nights
● Internalize and exhibit the Beyond School Mission
● Support and help complete all daily tasks that must be implemented for Beyond School
● Guide and encourage volunteers serving in order to maximize scholar growth
● Transport students as needed, including transporting students home and to enrichment/community service opportunities
● Obtain Class E driver’s license
● Lead snack distribution and record keeping for snack in accordance with grant requirements
● Lead teach at least one Enrichment class
● Co-facilitate Crew Times
● Provide coverage for a crew when Success Coaches are absent
● As part of the Mission: St. Louis and AmeriCorps team, participate in activities, events, and various office-related duties as needed, including some weekend activities
● As a part of the Beyond School team, work on various projects as needed
● Attend school wide activities such as recitals and sporting events
Ideal Qualifications:
● Previous experience teaching and/or managing programs for inner city students
● Class E driver’s license and automobile to transport students
● Passion for and commitment to service
● Commitment to serve ~20 hours a week
● Excellent written and verbal communication skills
Skills
Kids don’t scare you.
Not only do you like kids, but you’re able to manage them well…even on the off chance that they’re not listening or behaving. (Do kids ever do that?)
You are very flexible, even with last minute changes.
You have plans, but you are ready to adjust as needed when unforeseen obstacles arise.
You can bridge communities of different types of people.
You are not only comfortable with different types of people, you understand how to help them connect with each other.
You can command attention.
When things get chaotic, you can take control and redirect the situation.
You are organized.
You can complete tasks and build systems and structures.
You’re a team player.
You can take direction, but you can also work with others to develop and carry out. You can respectfully voice your own opinions while listening to the ideas of others. To you, differences with teammates are opportunities to learn, grow, and collaborate.
High energy and enthusiastic with a strong belief that young people can succeed.
Community Need Addressed
Youth born into under-resourced communities face an achievement/opportunity gap (completing school or dropping out) that becomes apparent in middle school and widens in high school. Students are most at risk during middle school years. Low-income students fail to graduate at 5x the rate of middle-income families and 6x that of
higher-income youth. Within our partner schools, 98% and 65% of the student population qualifies for free or reduced lunch, indicating students in Beyond School (BS) come from low- income households. In 2015, 54% of students entered BS reading on average 2 years below grade level. Research has shown that 75% of students with literacy problems in the 3 rd grade will still experience difficulties in the 9 th grade, and 6 th graders who have failed English/reading only have a 10-20% chance of graduating high school. Furthermore, research has shown that high school dropout is a process, and indicators of dropout (academic achievement, behavior and attendance/engagement) are present as early as elementary and middle school. Schools will need resources or supplemental programs to accelerate student learning and close rather than widen achievement gap.
Position Outcomes
Beyond School serves when students are most at-risk, with a focus on reaching students during the elementary and middle grade years (grades 3-8) and at key transitions (between grade 8-10). Our activities focus on three critical areas that studies show point to increased risk for high school dropout: academic achievement, social/emotional learning, enrichment classes and community service learning/enrichment events .
Benefits
Education award upon successful completion of service, Living allowance, Student loan forbearance, Training
Education Benefits
CPR, First Aid Certification
Skills you will gain
Event planning, volunteer coordination, timekeeping, CPR/First Aid, public speaking, communication, conflict resolution
Competencies You Will Develop
Communication
Demonstrate sensitivity and empathy, Lead group discussion, Listen to and consider others' viewpoints, Maintain open lines of communication with others, Speak clearly, in precise language and in a logical, organized and coherent manner, Turn taking, Write cleary and effectively
Creativity & Problem Solving
Able to identify and define the problem, Capable of generating possible solutions, Communicate the problem to appropriate personnel, Improvise, Provide relevant expertise, Select and implement well-considered solution
Teamwork
Derive consensus, Develop constructive working relationships and maintain them over time, Establish a high degree of trust and credibility with others, Interact professionally and respectfully with supervisors and co-workers, Stay positive and outcome oriented, Use appropriate strategies and solutions for dealing with conflicts and differences to maintain a smooth workflow
Decisions
Accepts responsibility, Anticipate the consequences of decisions, Identify and prioritize the key issues involved to facilitate the decision making process, Involve people appropriately in decisions that may impact them, Quickly respond with a back-up plan if a decision goes amiss
Tools
Carefully consider which tools or technological solutions are appropriate for a given job, Consistently choose the best tool or technological solution for the problem at hand, Operate tools and equipment in accordance with established operating procedures, safety standards, and ethical guidelines, Seek opportunities to improve knowledge of tools and technologies that may assist in streamlining work and improving productivity
Planning
Able to prioritize various competing tasks, Create environment of contribution, Create plan of action, schedule tasks so that work is completed on time, Demonstrate the effective allocation of time and resources efficiently, Drive decision making, Effectively delegate tasks, Facilitate group planning, Set goals
Service
Be pleasant, courteous, professional and respectful when dealing with internal and external customers or clients, Evaluate customer or client satisfaction, Honor the privilege of being able to work with and for those being served, Provide personalized, prompt, and efficient service to meet the requirements, requests and needs of customers, Recognize the importance of maintaining privacy and confidentiality of those being served, Understand and anticipate the needs of others, Understand the importance of one's role in the functioning of the organization, Understand the significance of maintaining a healthful and safe environment