POSITION OVERVIEW:

• Start Date: anticipated to start September 3rd, 2024

• Supervisor: Director of Program Operations

• Directly Manages: n/a

• Works closely with: Manager of Program and Operations, Learning Directors, Learning Coordinators, Senior Manager of Volunteers and Curriculum

• Position Status: The Program Support Fellow is a full-time stipend volunteer position, made available through partnership with the AmeriCorps Program.

• Duration: The term of service will begin on September 3, 2024, and end on August 31, 2025, with the option to renew for a second term. To successfully complete the AmeriCorps program, the individual must complete 1700 service hours.

• Remote Status: hybrid (In-person for all center operational hours, for 2 in-office days and for any mission critical activities and relationship building events)

• Schedule/Hours: Works Monday through Friday. Occasional weekend availability is required.

• During Afterschool Academy program, on center days (3-4 days a week) works on average 11:00 am to 7:00 pm schedule; on non-center days, works a standard business schedule, 9:00 am- 5:00 pm and Friday hours are 9:00 am - 3:00 pm.

• During the summer, works on average Monday-Thursday, 9:00 am- 5:00 pm and Friday, 9:00 am – 1:00 pm.

• Location: This position must be within commuting distance of our DC Metro Higher Achievement office.

• Travel: Candidate must have the ability to travel in between main office and Achievement Center(s) on a daily basis via reliable transportation and attend events in the location area on a regular basis. Occasional weekend availability is required, as well as availability for one annual three day overnight college trip each summer.

• Compensation and Benefits: The Achievement Fellow will receive a living allowance of $25,500 designed to help meet the necessary living expenses incurred while participating in the AmeriCorps Program. Upon successful completion of 1700 hours of service, the Member will receive an education award in the amount of $6,195. Higher Achievement offers competitive benefits, including:

• 100% company paid medical, dental, 50% coverage for dependents, life, long and short term disability insurances,

• Vision, critical illness and accident insurances- employee paid

• Twelve (12) official paid holidays each calendar year

• Six weeks (240 hours) of paid annual leave per fiscal year that can be used for vacation, sick, or personal days, accruing at the rate of 9.23 hours per bi-weekly pay period.

• 403 (b) retirement plan with company match

• Tuition Advancement funds and Professional Development funds

Summary: We are seeking an individual that is creative and solutions oriented, personable, has strong communication skills and willing to learn! The position includes both direct involvement with scholars, and administrative tasks, to support Higher Achievement’s progressive, skills-based cultural and academic model. Reporting to and working closely with the Director of Program Operations, Learning Directors and Learning Coordinators, the Program Support Fellow will manage relationships and operations necessary to run a successful Achievement Center, providing year-round academic programming for up to 70 middle school students.

Responsibilities will focus on following key areas:

• academic support and instruction

• high school placement

• communication with teachers and families

• scholar recruitment

• external partner communication

• data collection

• event support

AREAS OF ACCOUNTABILITY:

ACADEMIC SUPPORT & INSTRUCTION:

Afterschool Academy

Outcome(s): Learning Blocks will operate successfully with focused, productive scholars who are treated with respect and held to high expectations.

• Supervise and manage a group of up to 15 scholars three or four days per week (Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and/or Thursday).

• Review scholars’ assignments; help them to prioritize daily assignments, along with setting realistic time-tables with prioritized task-lists for longer-term projects

• Ensure that homework is completed by all scholars to a high degree of quality. High-quality assignments are characterized by a high level of accuracy, an organized and clear presentation, and answers that indicate thinking beyond the surface level.

• Assist scholars in preparing for upcoming quizzes and tests; coach them to develop strong study skills

• Ensure volunteers are assisting scholars with homework and abiding by Higher Achievement’s expectations

• Answer questions from scholars and re-teach necessary concepts to scholars when needed

• Provide scholars with engaging, meaningful supplemental activities when all homework has been completed

• Reinforce Higher Achievement’s culture principals and positive work culture

• If allowed, operate out of the center’s host school for a substantial portion of the work week

• Lead a weekly elective scholars can participate in of your choosing that provides scholars with enrichment opportunities

• Support in creating SEL and academic activities for Learning Blocks

• Create/find supplemental activities for Learning Blocks, particularly 8th grade

• Directing 8th grade mentors and serving as an 8th grade mentor

Summer Engagement

Outcome(s): Scholars and families are offered engagement with the program during the summer to propel forward progress towards high school placement goals. Scholars feel supported and excited by field trip opportunities and extracurricular engagement.

• Lead high school field trips and discussions for scholars, particularly 7th and 8th grade scholars either in-person or virtually

• Foster relationships with rising 8th grade scholar families and make outreach calls on a regular basis to determine the support they will need the following year

• Support in leading High School Readiness Academies in late July for scholars at your center

• Scholar Recruitment: attend summer bridge opportunities that schools host for rising 6th graders and present about Higher Achievement

• Attend college trips with staff and scholars and supervise groups of up to 20 scholars during the trip as they meet with professors and students, and learn about the college

• Attend and co-lead summer engagement opportunities for scholars that your center is offering (field trips, scholar/family retention events, etc)

• Support team in the planning and preparation for the following Afterschool Academy

• Potentially supporting on other supplemental projects both related to center and AmeriCorps

HIGH SCHOOL PLACEMENT

Outcome(s): 85% of 8th grade scholars will apply to at least two college preparatory high schools; 100% of our scholars will enroll in high school by Washington, DC’s designated deadline.

• Track region-wide scholar progress towards completing high school applications

• Support center specific lead on the high school placement process for all 8th grade scholars

• Manage scholars’ high school placement portfolios including 7th and 8th grade report cards and test scores

• Through trainings, serve as on-site “expert” in high school placement process

• Serve as liaison for families regarding high school placement process

• Support High School Fair

• Support in individual parent/guardian meetings with placement scholars

• Create opportunities to build relationships with staff at key high schools through visits, meetings, and field trips for scholars

• Communicate updates to staff about the high school placement process

COMMUNICATION WITH FAMILIES, TEACHERS, AND STAFF

Outcome(s): Higher Achievement maintains strong and consistent communication with schools, teachers, and families so that strategies are sought and scholars’ needs are adequately met.

• Support Learning Director as a bridge between scholars’ schools - to include faculty team meetings, classroom observations, and parent/teacher conferences

• Serve as lead expert in High School placement with families and schools; collaborate to lead meetings and support high school placement mentors

• Keeping in constant contact with families on high school application progress and enrollment progress

• Communicate with scholars’ teachers and families to secure quarterly report cards and annual standardized test scores for scholar data analysis

• Track scholar progress; communicate progress to Learning Director

• Communicate with 8th grade scholars’ teachers and families when concerns or successes arise

• Participate in Center Staff meetings; discuss individual scholar needs and map plans to ensure scholar progress.

• Support Higher Achievement staff with ideas and creative problem-solving support

SCHOLAR RECRUITMENT

Outcome(s): Full rosters (50 scholars or increase roster by 30%) to start Summer 2023

• Support new scholar recruitment

• Schedule/conduct presentations to scholars and families, conduct scholar interviews and new family outreach.

• Support LD in building relationships with feeder schools

• Attend PTA meetings, community meetings, and other events as a representative of Higher Achievement

• Organize and track scholar paperwork as it pertains to recruitment

• Support with planning and implementing Back to Higher Achievement Night (B2HAN)

OTHER DUTIES (seasonal)

• Reporting and communicating High School Placement and recruitment data and updates to all key stakeholders (staff, etc.)

• Attend all required trainings

• Assist in administrative duties, such as data entry as needed

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.