Education Partnerships Fellow - Jumpstart (school year)

Level/Pay Range

Students are paid on hourly basis. The range is $12 to $13 depending on experience, work study. Federal work-study or community service work-study is possible.

Hours

• 8 to 12 hours per week during the school year including (late September through early June):
  • Jumpstart sessions with team, 4 hours per week (two afternoons a week for two hours each)
  • team planning meetings, reflection, and/or training, 2–6 hours per week
  • session preparation, 1 hour per week
  • weekly meetings with team leaders and program director, 1 hour per week
• Participate and facilitate portions of preservice and inservice trainings.
• Participate in Jumpstart service learning course, Education 171: Early Childhood Education Practicum.

Reports to

Elizabeth Figueredo

Context

Jumpstart’s mission is to work toward the day every child in America enters school prepared to succeed. To this end, Jumpstart trains and supports college students to serve as part-time Corps members, working individually with young children to build skills crucial to school success. Jumpstart focuses on three program areas: building School Success for young children by fostering their early language, literacy, social, initiative skills; encouraging strong Family Involvement to help families support children’s learning; and training college students to be Future Teachers and leaders in early childhood education. Jumpstart serves young children in more than 60 communities nationwide.

The team leader prepares a team of Corps members to provide educational activities to young children and families. Responsibilities include planning and implementing effective Jumpstart sessions, facilitating team meetings, and coaching Corps members to use developmentally appropriate practices with young children. The team leader plays a variety of roles, including coach, trainer, observer, and administrator, and is essential to making Jumpstart a high quality program. The Jumpstart team leader position is open to Jumpstart Corps members and alumni who have completed at least one year of service.

Responsibilities

School Success

• Lead planning and implementation of Jumpstart sessions two times per week.
• Support Jumpstart’s ongoing assessment efforts.
• Build strong relationships with preschool staff.
• Ensure high-quality service delivered to children by Corps members.

Family Involvement

• Assist Corps members in developing strong relationships with children’s families.
• Model appropriate interactions with children’s families.
• Ensure that all Corps members communicate regularly with families and develop alternative means of communication (notes, newsletters, etc.) to support Corps members relationships’ with families.

Future Teachers

• Support school year start-up, including Corps member recruitment and training.
• Deliver various Corps member trainings, and facilitate ongoing reflection.
• Encourage Corps members to document Jumpstart children’s progress using Jumpstart’s School Success Guide.
• Participate in all Jumpstart Corps member training and additional team leader training.

Community Engagement

• Lead team during service days and other service events.
• Represent Jumpstart at partner early childhood center and other community meetings.
  

Communication and Administration

• Participate in weekly team leader meetings with site staff.
• Serve as communication link between site staff and Corps members.
• Manage administrative tasks such as Corps member and child attendance and other documentation.

Qualifications

Team-building experience

• ability to lead a team of diverse Corps members to effectively plan and implement Jumpstart sessions and various program elements
• strong communication skills, including the ability to facilitate meetings and trainings
• experience in a leadership role, preferably with college students

Early childhood knowledge and practice

• experience working in an early childhood setting and/or knowledge of early childhood development
• ability to coach Corps members in working effectively with children and families

Commitment to service

• community service experience
• ability to work with people from diverse backgrounds
• ability to fulfill a yearlong community service commitment
• enthusiastic and positive attitude toward helping others

Professionalism

• dedication to Jumpstart’s mission and program areas
• willingness to represent Jumpstart to outside groups
• ability to work with people from diverse backgrounds
• maturity and good judgment in relating to Jumpstart peers, partners, and families
• availability, dependability, and willingness to be flexible

To apply

Apply online at Jumpstart. For more information, please contact Elizabeth Figueredo.

Jumpstart is an equal opportunity organization and encourages applications from all individuals without regard to race, color, religion, gender, sexual orientation, national origin, age, disability, marital status, amnesty, political affiliation, or status as a covered veteran in accordance with all applicable federal, state and local laws. Qualified individuals with disabilities are strongly encouraged to apply. Jumpstart will make reasonable accommodations for qualified individuals. Accommodation requests should be directed to the Jumpstart office to which you are applying. Jumpstart is a proud member of the AmeriCorps national service network. Please note that not all Jumpstart sites are directly supported by AmeriCorps. Please contact the site to which you are applying for more information.