Part Time Mentoring and Literacy Program Coordinator

Read to a Child Program Coordinator in Allston, MA

Location: Gardner Pilot Academy, 30 Athol Street, Allston, MA 02134

Hourly Rate: $20.00 per hour

Benefits: Employee Leave, 401k, flexibility and countless non-monetary rewards

Desired Start: early September 2026

Job Type: In-person with some remote administrative work

Read to a Child’s Read Aloud Mentoring Program (RAMP) pairs a volunteer mentor with an elementary school student for a rewarding weekly read aloud experience during the child’s lunchtime. The Program Coordinator manages the daily operations of the program at Gardner Pilot Academy, ensuring smooth logistics, strong relationships, accurate record‑keeping, and a positive experience for students, mentors, and school staff.

The current open Program Coordinator role is an on-site position working in a school directly with students who will meet with their read aloud mentor virtually over Zoom each week. Note: At this school in 2026-27, we may add at least one session that will consist of in-person volunteers and students. Successful candidates must be comfortable working in an in-school environment and in keeping with all safety protocols required by the school. Additionally, successful candidates must be comfortable working with and hosting group video conference platforms (eg: Zoom).

This role is extremely important to the program’s function and success and will be an integral part of a fun and collaborative team! Program Coordinators are the face of RAMP and play a vital role in the program’s success.

Schedule & Hours:

Hours are approximately 11:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. at the school, Tuesdays and Thursdays, during the school year, from October to early June. Training and prep during September. Some availability outside of these days and times for data entry, communications, and meetings.An average of 8-10 total hours per week. There are no sessions during school vacation weeks.

Essential Job Duties (In‑Person): This role requires constant movement throughout the school building, guiding students to reading sessions, transporting books and materials, and occasionally ascending/descending stairs. Coordinators must be able to position books and materials on a rolling cart and move the cart between locations.

Key Responsibilities:

1. Program Operations & Coordination

• Ensure smooth program start‑up, including school partnership logistics (relationships, space, scheduling, absences, teacher referrals, student permissions, matching/re‑matching pairs).
• Facilitate and monitor reading sessions (in‑person and virtual) to ensure smooth operation.
• Maintain hygiene and safety standards; ensure rooms are left clean and orderly.
• Support volunteers with book ideas and assistance with student engagement
• Maintain an organized, inviting book cart for on‑site programs.
• Assist with year‑end celebrations and help students create thank‑you cards for mentors.
• Support volunteer recruitment efforts.
• Complete additional tasks as requested; interested coordinators may support other schools as Program Assistants.

2. Communication & Relationship Management

• Communicate regularly with the Program Manager
• Provide ongoing communication to volunteer mentors, including program updates, student absences, and schedule changes.
• Notify students, teachers, and parents/guardians of mentor cancellations or schedule changes.
• Offer general and case‑specific guidance to volunteer mentors (with supervisor input).
• Maintain ongoing communication with teachers and school liaisons as well as fostering positive relationships with school staff

3. Data Management & Administrative Tasks

• Document reading session attendance and update participant information in the database.
• Collect mid‑year and year‑end surveys/assessments from mentors, students, and teachers.
• Submit timesheets accurately and on time.
• Complete administrative responsibilities virtually as needed (data entry, communications, meetings).

4. Training & Professional Development

• Attend required Program Coordinator training sessions and meetings.
• Participate in performance evaluations and goal‑setting.

Key Qualifications:

• Commitment to Read to a Child’s mission, viability, and growth.
• Experience working with young children.
• Enthusiasm for children’s literature and willingness to learn the RAMP book collection.
• Preferred: Experience managing volunteers.
• Strong communication skills (in‑person, virtual, phone, email).
• Commitment to advancing Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion.
• Highly organized; able to manage multiple tasks with flexibility and a positive attitude.
• Comfortable using Zoom
• Proficiency with email, Google Drive, word processing, spreadsheets, e‑book platforms, and basic data entry.
• Access to reliable transportation

Diversity Statement: Read to a Child is committed to providing resources to children most impacted by systemic inequalities. We believe in our students’ ability to thrive when provided equitable support and when their strengths are centered. We continuously work toward diversity, equity, and inclusion among mentors, staff, and board members to best reflect and support the students we serve.

• To Apply: Send your resume and cover letter outlining your suitability for the tasks and schedule to: Heidi Sampson, heidi.sampson@readtoachild.org *Applications without a cover letter will not be considered.