Achievement First Partnership - GO AmeriCorps Fellow October 2021 - June 2022

Company: Great Oaks Foundation
Location: Stratford
Posted on: September 5, 2021

Job Description:

Great Oaks AmeriCorps Fellow

Achievement First Full-time Placement

Great Oaks Charter Schools and partner schools 

In partnership with AmeriCorps

We are seeking team-oriented, student-centered, service-minded individuals who share the belief that all students deserve a high-quality education. Great Oaks (GO) Americorps Fellows, placed at Achievement First,  gain valuable professional and personal experience and acquire skills in civic-engagement, teamwork, and leadership during the service term.

Position Summary

As members of the GO AmeriCorps Fellowship, Fellows are directly responsible for providing individualized instruction, mentorship, and enrichment opportunities to several small groups of middle or high school students each day in a full-time AmeriCorps service position. Fellows serve Monday-Friday and some weekends- an average day lasting 9-10 hours. 

The ideal candidate for the GO AmeriCorps Fellowship at Achievement First is a recent college graduate who is passionate about service and working with youth. GO AmeriCorps Fellows serve in Hartford, New Haven, and Bridgeport, Connecticut.

Who We Are

The mission of the Great Oaks Foundation (GOF) is to launch and support a network of charter schools that prepare students for college success through a rigorous tutorial program. The Great Oaks Foundation has replicated the Great Oaks AmeriCorps Fellowship model in Newark, NJ, New York, NY, Bridgeport, CT, Wilmington, DE and Baltimore, MD. A select group of GOFellows are enrolled in the Teaching Residency program.  

Achievement First, a non-profit 501(c)3 charter school management organization, operates 37 public charter schools in Brooklyn, Connecticut, and Rhode Island for the 2021-2022 school year. The mission of Achievement First is to close the achievement gap and deliver on the promise of equal educational opportunity for all children, regardless of race or economic status. Achievement First currently educates more than 10,000 students in historically underserved neighborhoods, with over 90% of our students identifying as Black and Latino. With its college-preparatory focus, the Achievement First approach is attaining breakthrough academic gains throughout the network. Beyond our students and schools, Achievement First is an engaged and prominent partner in the larger conversation about how to improve public education and student achievement in our country.

The Great Oaks Foundation has partnered with Achievement First to provide placement opportunities for GO Americorps Fellows to serve students in need of support through high dose tutoring and mentoring.  GOF Fellows will support students in grades 5-8 in Achievement First’s Hartford, New Haven, and Bridgeport middle schools.

GO AmeriCorps Fellows are integral members of the school community. Over the course of one school year (October through June), Fellows collaborate with diverse stakeholders to instruct and mentor students, and help develop a community where those students thrive.

Responsibilities

Instruct for Mastery- Fellows deliver individualized small-group instruction to students in the context of a supportive relationship, resulting in a significant increase in math and ELA achievement. 

• Provide daily tutoring to students in math and/or English Language Arts for an average of four (45 minute) periods a day 
• Utilize at least one prep period each day to organize, adapt, and/or plan instructional materials
• Provide additional academic supports during after-school programming and/or Saturday Academy (dependent on campus placement)
• Collaborate with teachers to support individualized and student-driven academic goal setting
• Actively participate in student and/or content-focused meetings with Fellow leadership, school leadership, and teachers
• Regularly assess student progress to inform personalized instruction
• Provide in-class or curriculum support (dependent on secondary role)

Mentor for Leadership- Fellows provide fundamental support to students’ social emotional growth. Fellows help empower students to evolve into leaders.

• Mentor small groups of students in formal and informal settings
• Collaborate with school staff to support students’ individualized learning needs  
• Consistently serve as a model of professional behavior for students
• Ensure students’ continued demonstration of school-wide values and culture systems
• Support students to set self-directed social emotional goals
• Cultivate relationships with families through weekly communication, ensuring open conversations about student progress

Develop a Community- Fellows will contribute to the development of the school and surrounding communities. 

• Support the development of an enriching school environment by being present during arrival,  dismissal, lunch and transition of students as well as school and community-based events
• Learn and acclimate to the Achievement First  school culture and procedures, hold students accountable to expectations when necessary
• Actively engage in professional development sessions that are focused on student instruction (tutorial), mentoring and coaching techniques, student data, personal development, diversity and inclusion, etc.
• Plan and support student and family events 
• Participate in school-wide service days- 9/11 Day of Service and Martin Luther King Jr. National Day of Service 
• Lead and support after-school programming (varies by campus)
• Effectively collaborate with a team of Fellows to achieve the Program’s mission
• Additional responsibilities established by school and network leadership

To ensure Fellows meet the necessary living expenses incurred while participating in the GO AmeriCorps Fellowship program, members are provided a modest living stipend, a local housing allowance, and access to food and health benefits. Members also receive ongoing professional development throughout the year. Fellows will be eligible for an AmeriCorps Segal Education Award upon successful completion of the service term in good standing with the service site (completing 1,700 hours of service for Full-time members and the school year in its entirety). Most importantly, GO AmeriCorps Fellows gain valuable professional and personal experience and acquire skills in civic-engagement, teamwork and leadership during a year of service.

Qualifications 

• Earned Bachelor’s degree before October 1, 2021
• Citizenship or legal Permanent Residency status in the United States (AmeriCorps requirement)
• Served no more than three previous AmeriCorps service terms (AmeriCorps State & National requirement)

Competencies

A successful candidate will bring the following qualities to the role: 

• Passion for service and a resilient, positive mindset
• Commitment to serving children in public schools and an unwavering belief that ALL students can succeed
• Prior experience working or volunteering with children (tutoring and/ or mentoring preferred) 
• Relationship building, communication, and collaboration skills- experience working in team settings
• Maturity to live and work closely with professional peers
• Ability to stay organized and met deadlines
• Commitment to lifelong learning- responds well to and implements feedback
• Collaborative problem-solving abilities

General Information

This AmeriCorps service role will start in Fall 2021 and run through June 2022. GO Fellow positions are available in Hartford, New Haven, and Bridgeport, Connecticut.

Application Process:

• From the date of your application, you can expect to receive a call within 3 days regarding your eligibility and next steps.

If you are applying through a mobile phone: 

• Use the notes feature on your mobile phone
• Copy and paste your text into the application

This will ensure clarity of writing.

Keywords: Great Oaks Foundation, Stratford , Achievement First Partnership - GO AmeriCorps Fellow October 2021 - June 2022, Other , Stratford, Connecticut